[Porsche-O-Phile]

Stick to your guns. You gave your notice. Leave. As much of a "nice guy" as your new manager is, if you change your mind you'll lose the network reference from your friend and you'll be labeled as a troublemaker/pussy at your current job, especially if your current manager ever leaves or gets laid off (which from the sounds of it, isn't too far out of the question).

Better to take a job where you're moderately unhappy but have security right now than take one you like but leaves you in a vulnerable spot. I'm in exactly that situation now. I had to uproot my family and move across the country to take a job that I kinda' like but kinda' don't. But it's uber-stable and I seriously doubt I'm going anywhere anytime soon. I know I could probably be making a little more $$$ too (especially if I went into private practice, as has always been my dream) but right now it's simply too unstable out there.

A bird in the hand...

Count your blessings - there are a lot of people who would love to have your problem right now.