I think it is the clutch, because the noise is only apparent when it first starts up... not when it is continuosly running. There is a grinding or chattering the first few seconds only. I noticed it mostly in the Fall when temps were 50's and 60's but AC was coming on for the battery.
( I work the battery pretty hard in the city, as you can see from some of my short trip MPG records below...)

I know the dealer gets paid from corporate for warranty repairs, but they must also turn over the defective parts to corporate as proof on the claim, right? I think they took a 5 minute look at it, and the problem was not apparent today.

Is the fact I asked them to look at it today, proof enough if it completely fails at 61 or 62k? Will the "look" they gave it today be documented?
They still have the car. They found a ground fault on the ABS when they were just checking the car. I have heard from some other owners about having ground fault issues on ABS also. One was a 2007. Just FYI. I had no MIL lamps. Neither did my friend with the 2007. -John