Personally, it
seems to me that you have already got attraction covered. The first thing I would absolutely not do is invite her best friend. I always hate it if there is a friend sticking around, what if this friend does not like you? She might be giving all kinds of advices about you behind your back you really don't want to know. Besides that, how can you get the girl to be comfortable around and intimate with you when her best friend is watching your every move? In my opinion friends can be an advantage, but in this stage it can be a pain in the ass.
About the driving thing, I'd just get an IOI out of her without directly asking what you want to hear. Make her WANT you to drive with her! Solves your problems and gives you a higher value as well!
If you pay for everything you may come across kinda needy, like you'd do everything to make her like the Mr. Niceguy in you. That way you're getting too close to the LJBF-zone. Remember you're the winning lottery ticket here! Self-confidently split the bills baby! ("What makes you think I like you that much already?")

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Make sure you've got the attraction working, and then, only then, move to medium kino. Just be sure it's the right moment. If she has already, let her kino you a little bit, and then slightly crank up your approach bit by bit, but don't push it. Especially if she isn't kino-ing you!
Hope you can use this and works for you!