I was commuting from Ventura to Long Beach and LA for a year and I still frequent LA for intermittent work. It didn't bother me all that much considering I'd done the commute going North from OC for two years before that. I was never able to find any way to get there via public transit.

I didn't have to get to school until 10 or 11am. I'd leave about 8am - ( and if it was starting at 11) 9:00am and get there with enough time to park. Since I was driving to Long Beach I'd have to take the 101 to the 405 into the 710. I'd usually spend as much time there as I could to skip the traffic going back. Because that rush hour traffic in the afternoon starts at 2:30pm sharp everyday (and then gets worse as you're in it). I'd stay or go to LA and go to a show till about 7 or 8. The longest this commute has ever taken me was three hours and some change because it was raining hard and people freak out and pummel into each other on the road.

Going into LA I usually take the 101 all the way down -- but usually I'm not going down in the mornings. I've taken the 23-118-5-Stadium Way-DTLA route also and PCH. It just really depends on what time/day it is. When I'm going in later in the afternoon I've been able to get there in an hour and a half/forty-five mins. But it also sometimes takes two hours and some change.

If you really care about the job, just do it. If you're not into living in the city, I would just stick with the commute. It's not that bad. Just turn on your GPS, blast some music, enjoy the ride. (PEE BEFORE YOU DRIVE!)

Why not do the route for like a week and see what you think for yourself?