[SloMo6Oh]

Thanks again Mech! Your input is encouraging and positive - I appreciate that.
I found out the dealership PDI'ed the car 12/08/03. The in-service date is 5/13/04.
They told me the IMA warranty extention is to 10 years/157,500 miles for certain VINs.
Did some work on the car yesterday. As I think I mentioned before, the the passenger side underbody panel was hanging down in the front and on the side. At first I casually broomed out some loose snow and ice - it didn't look bad. I wasn't sure if I was going to remove the snow & ice and reattach the panel or take it off.
Once I jacked up the car I could see the full extent of the snow & ice packed under there. I took some pictures just to document it. Gotta check the rules - don't think I've seen any pictures posted.
At any rate, I decided to take the panel off so I could drive it!
Needed some gas so I headed out. Notice she has some shudder when I take off. The Auto Idle Stop function doesn't happen. I guess that's for a number of reasons: a) the IMA isn't working, b) the ambient temp is too cold, and c) the car is not warmed up.
So I guess I'm just using the ICE 100% of the time.
When I decellerate I feel what I think is the regen braking kick in - but I don't know for sure. I try not to worry about it too much until the IMA warranty work is done.
Pulled up to a pump at the gas station, shut off the car, got out and realized I needed to drive around to the other side and the car wouldn't start. Long story short; the battery was dead. While I was going thru the car I had opened the doors and the hatch. I turned off the dome light but didn't realize there was a little light in the "trunk". After few hours in 20-some degree temps it killed the battery - which was probably weak to start with.
I put some gas in it and somehow, after sitting at the gas station for a few minutes, it started. On the 4-5 mile drive home I coasted in gear for a while. Again, I felt what I thought was the regen braking kick in but instead the car died. Luckily, I was only a mile and a half from home. Walked home. Grabbed the jumper cables, blah, blah, blah... Car started - drove home.
I don't have any fancy tools so I can't check the battery. I think I'll either buy a cheap charger or replace the battery and then drive it directly to the dealership to have them do the IMA warranty work.
The dealership will probably (hopefully) give me a list of things the think the car needs...
Then I'll go from there - Looking forward to getting on the road!