If you live in California with a lot of Stop and Go traffic is it better to go automatic?

It depends on you. Most people want an automatic transmission when they are in heavy traffic.

Personally, I have a manual transmission car. Even though traffic here in socal can be very heavy at times, I don't even notice the shifting. My brain has been trained to automatically do it for me. Perhaps when I get older, I'll have difficulties. But for now, I don't mind having a stick in rush hour traffic. I've even driven to Las Vegas where the traffic was much slower and for many, many, many miles.

Manual transmission cars are obsolete. A modern automatic gets better gas mileage in the real world (drivers with manual transmissions tend to rev the engine too high because it feels good).

Also a transmission rebuild costs about the same as the 3 clutches you replace in the same time.

Drag racers use automatics now because they shift faster and never miss a shift. Same for you off the line.

Remember that automatic transmission technology has improved a lot from when the old timers said a manual was better. While manual transmission technology has not improved for 40 years.

And when you are stuck in LA freeway traffic you will curse the day you bought a manual, unless the car is a Miata.

It is truth that you can get fatigue from gear-changing in heavy stop-start-stop traffic, so automatic is better

However, manual transmission normally out last them many times

An automatic will be less work, but it is boring. You will get used to shifting.

Yeah, you do get tired of shifting.