Advice please:P2SL vs. P2C

Both are great bikes....

If you have the funds I'd wait until you can get the P2C and perhaps rent a bike from the shop?  Some allow you to put the rental price toward the new bike.  Perhaps they have one you can rent/borrow while your P2C is on order?

Good Luck!!!

While the geometry is the same on the P2SL vs P2C, the ride is very diferent.  I was going with the P2SL figuring I could swing race wheels after.  That was until i actually rode the P2C.  very smooth ride and the carbon did make a diference.  I have both a carbon and alluminum road bike as well and didn't feel nearly the diference in ride between those two. 

Unless you have the chance to ride both before making your decision, you should wait on this purchase.  Just my $.02.

I am obviously new to the sport and just wanted to make sure I wouldn't get the P2SL and "outgrow" it in one season.  From what I can tell, it is more or less just a slightly heavier, less stiff, less aero P2C.  I can afford the P2C, but it might be more bike than I need now or in the immediate future and a P2SL should be easy to resell later, no?

Never assume you can easily sell a bike.  Truth is you will only get a fraction of the value that you paid. 

I love my P2SL Pro Limited and am on year 3 with it.

I absolutely love my P2SL ... however ... when I can afford it, I will be getting a P2C or P3C.  Carbon is more forgiving than aluminum, and after a long ride on carbon your body will have taken less of a beating and (in theory) you will be fresher for the run. 

If money is not an issue, go Carbon -- without question or hesitation.  Or, get the P2SL and with the extra grand get a nice set of race wheels. 

True. I just meant that if I got the P2SL and wanted to upgrade a year later, I could probably recoup 2/3 or so of the value and put it in the P2C. 

It just sucks because my race in next Sunday and I'm afraid I'm going to be on some crappy beach cruiser rental :P .  Seriously, if worse comes to worse, I can take my Softride out for one last hoorah and just not be quite so comfortable and then search for a P2C in the coming weeks.  Everyone loves their Cervelos across the board but for me, I think I'll get through the race somehow and then look for a P2C.  It's just tempting to tell the shop that sold me the Softride to swap it for the P2SL 61 they have in stock and be done with it but I'll just get my money back and look for the P2C. Thanks guys.