If you want to train in Cessna 172s, try American Aviation out of Van Nuys, ask for Aleksey Krishtall. I completed my PP training with him and can highly recommend! I started out at SMO at Santa Monica Flyers. SM Flyers have decent 172s, but all the good CFIs have left, and I don't know any of the remaining CFIs - all I know is that they charge in the $100/hour range.
Aircraft rental prices and CFI hourly rates are cheaper in VNY than SMO and in SMO you also have a $13 landing fee every time you do a T&G.... if cost is a concern. (oh, and no T&Gs during the weekend, so you would end up flying to VNY anyway.)
Aleksey knows Mark Boss, who is a DPE out of VNY, so he will know all the little nuances that this DPE will require during your check ride.
There are no DPEs based in SMO, so if you train there, you would need to fly either to CMA or to VNY for a DPE.
I believe TOA has Pat Carey as one of the DPEs, the guy is a legend!