Porsche Stability Management (PSM):yeah or neah?

PSM: Worth getting for street and occasional track use or simply one more electrical computerized gizmo which will need resetting and repairs?

Jim: Its quite troublefree and has not presented maintenance issues, to date. IMHO, this is a worthwhile option. In reality, we are not all world-class race drivers and PSM will do a credible job when we get over our heads; something easy to do with these cars. In most cases, it prevents you from getting to know your body shop or ER on a first-name basis.

Unconditional yeah. Ask any instructor, whether D. Murry, H. Haywood or anyone else, the answer is yeah. I have found it to be intrusive on the race track when really pushing the car and actually, it was eating through a set of Pagids of day because of compensation. The beauty is that you can turn it off so that it doesn't bother you when you decide to slide the car but will always come back on when you touch the brakes. I am a fan! JM

Thanks. I appreciate it and will get PSM if I order a C2. I know it's standard equipment on the C4S. Still undecided on this but that issue is in another thread. [quote]Originally posted by Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems: <strong>In most cases, it prevents you from getting to know your body shop or ER on a first-name basis.</strong><hr></blockquote>LOL! Unfortunately my ER knows me quite well. They never hesitate to ask for an emergent study at any hour. But that's what helps pay for this car. Indeed I would like to remain a stranger to the local body shops.

As a Porsche salesman, I say for a Boxster..no, for a BoxsterS..yes, Carreras..yes. PSM will help in 99% of the situations, DE events are the exception. Good Luck Jim, (get the C2)

How well does PSM work in, say, a parking lot autocross where you want to kick the back end out once in a while? There a times you want some instability. As I understand it, when you turn PSM off, it comes back on when you touch the brakes. Wouldn't you want it to stay off? I have a new C2 with PSM and am concerned that this is going to not work on the track.

If you turn it off, it stays off until youn hit the brakes when you release the brakes its back off again. In other words, you can never turn it off during breaking but you can for everything but braking (e.g. you disable the fake ldt slip that really works by applying brakes) Unless you know how to left foot brake to balance weight loads on a car so that it's totally flat, it's no issue at all!

[quote]Originally posted by Jean-Marc: <strong>Unless you know how to left foot brake to balance weight loads on a car so that it's totally flat, it's no issue at all!</strong><hr></blockquote> That's the only problem I have with PSM: left foot braking, or trail-braking. It's a very bizarre feeling when the car will not let you do what you want.

jim, You have to ask yourself and be honest about your needs. If you are like most of us then go and get it. Why not be safe. I dont have one on mine but when it get slippery then i do wonder about it. So, if this car isnt your track car and dont really want to toss the tail of the car around then go with it. GOOD LUCK

I get it now! It stays off when switched off except when you are on the brakes. That also explains why limited slip is no longer offered. It is not needed because they use the brakes to load the spinning wheel and transfer torque over to the wheel with traction. I have read the Service Information book for 2000 (when PSM came out) and still didn't pick that up. I bought the option because knowledgable folks said to be sure to get it. Now that I know what it does, I'm sure glad I did.

[quote]Originally posted by DJ: <strong> That's the only problem I have with PSM: left foot braking, or trail-braking. It's a very bizarre feeling when the car will not let you do what you want.</strong><hr></blockquote> I never had a problem with trail braking... Have you had intervene when trail braking?

[quote]Originally posted by Jean-Marc: <strong> I never had a problem with trail braking... Have you had intervene when trail braking?</strong><hr></blockquote> Yes. The car doesn't rotate quite as quickly (it feels a little sluggish) and the pedal does a very quick ABS pulsing. Left foot braking just seems to confuse it.

I'd rather give up a little adrenalin than pay a visit to the orthopedist, neurosurgeon, rehab unit, and body shops. I'll be getting PSM. Thanks to all for your input.

You've had a lot of good input, and made the correct choice in my mind. For me the best thing about PSM is that I am more comfortable pushing the car closer to its limit when playing than I otherwise would be. Just knowing it is there brings a peace of mind that lets me have more fun with the car.

I have PSM on my Boxster and I like it. Saved my bacon a couple times in the 82,000 miles of delightful driving in rain, snow, DE events. Highly recommend.

Resurrect a decade old thread. You win the prize today for sure!

IT IS ALIVE!!!! Hey Chao, how is the turbo treating you? I took the 996 to Roebling Road last weekend. First DE in her. Good times.

Oh, just to keep on topic, the PSM didn't kick in. I guess I wasn't pushing it hard enough.

I love it. The guys first post too. For the record - PSM does not turn back on if the ABS is engaged. Off is off. I tested this on my car during an autocross.

PSM = Porsche Save Me! A lap of any track with it turned on, followed by a lap with it off is an eye-opening experience.

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Hi Kevin, Good to hear my old car is alive and well. Any pictures? I need to take a good pic of my turbo this summer to replace my avatar. Having your car in my avatar space is a sign that I miss it a lot. There has not been too much time with the turbo due to work and family commitments. BTW, I was going to email you that you can just remove the faceplate on the stereo and reinstall to get the volume button working correctly again. https://rennlist.com/forums/boxster-...me-issues.html

Holy thread resurrection batman!

I don't have it and drove in some deep snow. Granted...will never do that again but to me, just another expensive thing to break. If you can drive the car well....it is one control that is not needed for a daily driver.

Short of over steering and travelling very fast on a bend to make the tail spin out, how would i know if the PO had installed the PSM on my 99 996? Would there be a switch somewhere on the dash board? I use it as a DD and do not track the vehicle. I sometimes feel a slight rear end drift on fast cornering but the car seems to correct itself before I get a chance to steer into th drift. Could the PSM have been installed without there being a switch on the dash? Anyone Know???????? thanks in advance

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No button = no PSM When PSM kickes in you will see a yellow flashing PSM on the dashboard. I think the fact that the car corrects itself is due to the inherent understeer built in to the 996, especially if you lift off the accellerator. Here is some good reading on PSM and trackdays/DE. ps. Walther R�hrl, Legendary Porsche racedriver and testdriver calls PSM = Porsche Slows Me down....

Totally agree with jean-Marc. Worth having. You can turn it off if you like. The switch that turns it off actually sets it to "less intrusive" when it says it is off. Get instructions on the procedure to completely disable if you want. Most folks don't need it totally disabled anyway.

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Jasper.....have to disagree here. You did not push it hard enough. I can turn it off at a DE but when pushing hard it comes on.

Interesting. The first thing I do is turn PSM off when I leave the pits. When I turn it off it stays off the whole session.

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During braking even with the PSM switch off. It will monitor. If it does anything is dependent on the what is happening while you are braking. The only way to truly turn it off is to pull the ABS fuse.

I don't have it on my car, and I have never felt the need for it Neither on the track, nor on the road, even under heavy rain. Unless you are a teenager trying to learn the law of physics you will be fine without it. I remember my teenage driving years and yes I think I could have used it then

I have heard this from a Professional Racing driver during one of the recent NNJR PCA meetings (Andrew Davis) that Porsches are quite good even in the rain - I figured out because of all the weight on the rear wheels giving the traction required. He's an instructor at the Racing Schools and also mentioned that PSM won't interfere with your driving unless you just don't know how to.. Its there just to keep you safe when you cross the limits.

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Every one has their own limit. Porsche sets the limit to the lowest common denominator. This is to protect everyone down to the worst driver. These limits are too intrusive to people that can drive beyond that limit. For example I have experienced while cornering going up a hill sideways. I need to get on the brake at the top of the hill to make a sharp corner. I expect that when I brake I will rotate the car to increase my slip angle. During this if the limit is crossed I'll feel the car twitch and it will suddenly cause the car to straighten out at I can not rotate the car like I wanted to. If I keep more lightly on the brake and rotate the car more slowly then PSM won't come on. If you want to drive sideways, you won't be able to go sideways for very long. This is why GT2/3 cars in later models with PSM have increased limits programed so that it is less intrusive.

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Unless you hit an unexpected slippery surface, oil, ice, etc.

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In my '01 if the rear begins to come around, kick out, as long as I am quick enough with the correct level of counter-stear PSM remains inactive. PSM gives the driver "just" enough time to react correctly for an event.

I like that I can drive the car to 11/10ths, and PSM will 1-wheel brake and other magic to give 10/10ths worth of performance, and make me look good I hate like when it retards the throttle, though.