I've worked in Manchester for 4.5 years, the company I worked for at the time I took the job was about to fold, no opportunities in my sector in Liverpool so basically had no choice - either start again with another career path (at 29) or do it - and my eldest was 6 months old which helped to focus my mind. Similar to the OP, the company I now work for also works with some of the biggest brands in the world which appealed to me, and I managed to negotiate 2 days a week working from home into my contract.
I drive from the Wirral (would probably get the train if I lived in Liverpool) leave at about 6.20/30 up the 62 - the main target is being past croft before 7am - can't stand being stood still in the queues there. As everyone else has said, the winter months can sometimes be unbearable! It's fine for the odd day to go wrong with an accident or whatever, but if you have a week of bad weather or just bad luck it can be bloody soul destroying.
My decision to move, from a career point of view, has been about as good as I could've imagined, the company is growing rapidly and I've progressed / been rewarded well. I'd love to see my kids more but I also want to be able to give them a decent life. My plan was to stay for a couple of years but I'm likely to stay for the foreseeable now.
If you feel like the job is worth it and that you are resilient enough to stick it out then go for it, find some good podcasts and try and negotiate some flexibility with days at home and/or working patterns to fit around the traffic.