[cobrasnake]

Richard - we all face the noise and neighbors issue. I warm my car up the night before which allows me to fire it up and drive away slowly in the morning, until the temperatures reach operating levels. I also back into my garage to allow for a fast getaway upon firing it up. Be respectful of your neighbors and hopefully they will keep mum, enjoying hearing and seeing you when you return from an excursion. I keep the noise down for the first couple of blocks from my home since those are the folks that hear you most frequently.

Looks like you will have some company on the drive from Saratoga to Alice's should you change your mind. It is a beautiful drive and if driven carefully, it will allow you to get more comfortable with your car. You could also leave home at 7:30, not stopping at Starbucks, and easily make it to Alice's by 8:30. If you have a problem, the other guys will be along shortly to help out. Should you nix Alice's completely, do try to hit Starbucks and introduce yourself and your car to those guys. It is a great way to start a weekend.

Hope to meet you soon. Tom