Regarding non-Southerners integrating into Auburn, here's the deal, From personal experience, the students are very friendly at Auburn. Like any university, you will really enjoy college when you join groups/clubs of similar interest (Auburn has lots of clubs) and then take a chance trying something you've never been exposed to. You can parlay your time at Auburn as part of an academic education and a cultural education. In the long run, the cultural education of attending an institution different from your current setting will benefit you immensely in your professional and personal life.
Regarding a car, I would bring a car for the following reasons. Auburn has a very walkable campus plus Tiger Transit so you would really not need it during the week. However, the car is an asset on weekends. You may develop relationships with fellow students without wheels. During Spring, you may want to make road trips to Florida beaches with your buddies,or accompany friends to their hometowns in Birmingham or Atlanta on weekends when no activities are happening on campus. Also, make friends with a local student from the Auburn-Opelika area - nothing beats a home cook meal on short notice.
If you have not viewed it already, then watch the Tigers in a New Territory video here -
Auburn University - Tigers in a New Territory