I have family in OC, so I'm usually around for the holidays. The LA show's also an annual event for me. I've missed maybe 2 or 3 of the last 15 or so years.
I implore you to not go Sat/Sun. LA's become the 3rd largest auto show worldwide, drawing > a million attendees, most of them on the 2 weekends. Think Disneyland on a holiday weekend: spend all day in line and not have time to see everything. I don't know how much less crowded Friday the 2nd will be since it's opening day.
If at all possible, go during the media days (Mon/Tue, Dec 29/30). Not only is it much less crowded (a few hundred people vs. a hundred thousand people), they feed you, and you get the cool press kits that you see on ebay (the Audi leather CD cases Car & Driver is giving away are probably leftover A8 press kits). Besides, if Lotus makes a big announcement/unveiling, it will be during these days. It may be possible for a sponsoring dealership or aftermarket booth to get you in for these days--I don't know this, and you didn't hear it from me.
Also, if you're willing to spend the extra money (to go to charity), there's a preview night immediately after the last media day. Otherwise, I'd go Mon-Thur.
Every year there are discount coupons available. This year they're at Chevron, so stop by a LA/OC station and pick up more coupons than you need; it's an easy way to make people smile when you give strangers $2 coupons they didn't know existed.