I need to be in Beverly Hills for work in late January, and then I'm going to head to San Diego to see friends. I haven't been to LA in years and never been to SD.
I always love driving, but not sure how traffic generally is on that route or how scenic the ride is?
Amtrak - business class - is the exact same rate as the cheapest (reliable) rental car I can find (about $55). Is that the best bet, and would it be better to go to "Old Town" or "Santa Fe Depot"? My friend lives in north San Diego, so it looks like Old Town is a bit closer, but not sure if either station is much easier to get out of or more preferable for another reason?
Are there other/nicer train options? In doing some quick research, it looks like there are but I am not sure how they compare to Amtrak.

Thanks in advance!