anyone else notice that the digital stuff in the car (dash, stereo, etc) are slower when its cold? For example, when you switch through the different menus using the steering wheel controls, the transitions are really slow before the car completely warms up.

 

Haven't noticed that, but your standard of "cold" (you don't say where you are) may be very different from mine. To me, "cold" is anything under 40 degrees F or 5 degrees C. Also, our car sleeps in an unheated but closed garage overnight, so it doesn't even get down to the outside temperature. What does you car say the temperature is when you notice the slow readings?

 

Yes.

I've also noticed a power [not surge, but.. flash?] at times - my instrument panel gets a little brighter a few minutes (<= 9) after startup.

 

This I believe is completely normal. Aircraft have the same problem. In the winter, on the first flight of the day in cold climates, its not unusual to see many of the electronics not only the displays to be not up and flight ready in some cases till we got to takeoff position. Some aircraft have aux heat in the electronics bay to minimize this.