Consider 911 w/o PSM?

I've always had the thought in my head that I had to have PSM on any 911 I would be shopping for. Recently, a good deal came up locally but doesn't have PSM...I'm wondering if it's a must have. I don't drive my cars hard (maybe open it up once in a while on a straightaway) but just worried about if the car will slip in the rain or skid on some loose gravel in the corners. Any advice? Worth taking a look at or keep looking for one with PSM?

It's worth having. I have it on my C4 and it's fine. On the track it doesn't intrude either until you screw up and then it's a good thing.

I don't have PSM on my C2. I don't miss it. If it had PSM, that's fine. But, I wouldn't let it stop you.I drove a TT w PSM and it kicked in when I was totally in control. I was like "WTF, why is the ABS kicking in when I'm not even on the brakes?". LOL.... If you live in somewhere where it's often wet and roads are rough, it'd be good to have. I live in SF and don't really drive the car in bad weather. If it does rain, I'd drive gingerly.

I drive my C4 as a year round daily driver - and I live in Minnesota. I would not buy it without. You thinking of driving it in the snow?

Lots of opinions on this. I have an 04 C2 without it. Have driven it in NJ winters without any problems. When I go to DE events and an instructor asks if I have it turned off, the universal reply when I tell them it does not even have it has been "good". Remember even if you have it and turn it off, it will come back on if "it" thinks it is needed.

If you want the extreme in safety get it. My car wasn't optioned with PSM. I've owned it for 3 1/2 years and I don't really know what I'm missing without it. 996 have so much understeer dialed in, my experience is you have to really work to spin them (though I have managed to do it a few times at the track!). I've got extra wide tires on the front and -1.5deg camber and it's still a long way from tail happy.

I have it but my PSM indicator light only comes on when I try to make it come on.. FYI, I drive my car hard in corners.

My 2000 Boxster had Traction control so I thought I would need PSM when I was looking for my 996. I ended up with an 02 without it and I don't think I miss it. I have understeer issuies and rear end slides are minimal and after a short time I have learned to control them and I think it is to my advantage.

I'll be using it in NJ but not so much in the rain and probably never in the snow as I have a Accord for those days. I guess I've always just had it programmed in my head that having stability control would make the car a ton safer...in reality I'm not 100% sure that's the case.

From living in Texas, unless you are someplace where you will frequently drive in snow; there is no need for 4WD or PSM. I intenionally looked for a high option car without PSM (not easy to find). These cars are not like the 911's of old. Even on the brakes in the rain in a corner, it is hard to get the backend to step out. This is something that would have caused my old 911 S/C to swap ends. The 996 is extrememly stable with lots of grip and easy to control at the limit. If you get one without it, you won't miss it.

My '04 C2 is my first P-car and it does not have PSM. I guess I don't know what I am missing, but I have absolutely no problems with my car "breaking loose."

I've always had the thought in my head that I had to have PSM on any 911 I would be shopping for. Recently, a good deal came up locally but doesn't have PSM...I'm wondering if it's a must have. For those who've attended performance driving schools and have mastered the techniques to control oversteer and understeer, PSM is unnecessary. For the other 99% of the drivers, PSM is probably the best safety device that's been offered in the last ten years. Moreover, PSM on Porsches is so unobtrusive, that it doesn't detract from spirited street driving.

I haven't attended driving schools but I'm not one with the guts to try ripping the car around a corner either. I'm just worried about the rear slipping in normal conditions, ie going on a off ramp in the rain, sliding on loose gravel during a turn, etc etc. I had a Supra TT which I had to be real careful in the rain or the car would fishtail...I'd hate for anything to happen to my first P-car.

I have a 99 psm not available then and I do not have TC = traction control either. I can get the tail out while on the gas but only when I want to and I still have to try pretty hard. Never had the tail step out in "normal" driving.

Your tires will have more to do with traction than anything in "normal" driving. The new 911s are increadibly capable, so I wouldn't worry one bit. Just make sure you have good tires under you. I'd like to hear more from people who drive their non-TC/PSM cars in winter? I drove my Boxster in winter and, with TC and winter tires it was terrific. But when I think about it, the TC would rarely kick on...so I'm wondering what it or a 996 would be like w/o any kind of stability management?

Your tires will have more to do with traction than anything in "normal" driving. Doug: You are right on target, but the same applies and maybe even more so in winter driving. If I had to chose between PSM and a great set of winter tires, I'd pick the winter tires in a heart beat. AWD, PSM, and ABS aren't going to help if your tires aren't getting traction.

Without a doubt I wouldn't drive any Porsche in winter w/o winter tires! I guess the question is, how comfortable do you guys feel with a non TC/PSM C2 in winter even with winter tires? I know I'd be "ok" in a Boxster...would the 996 be the same?

I don't have PSM, but I'm in Florida, so what do I know.

does pms count????

I think that is the opposite. PSM is to help be in control, not the oppsite.

how comfortable do you guys feel with a non TC/PSM C2 in winter even with winter tires? I had a 993 without PSM and drove it through four winters without incident. Of course I was always careful not to drive my 993 through heavy snow because of plowing issues, but with less than six inches of snow I got excellent traction with snow tires. BTW I thought all 996s had TC.

The 996 is a great sports car with or without PSM. Don't let PSM be the reason (with or without) for not buying one. The car is totally easy to drive and correct a slide as compare to any previous versions of 911. The only problem you have with the 996 is on track not on street driving. The 996 pushes like a dog without suspension upgrade to gain more negative camber. My personal recommendation is to find the 996 that you really like, buy it, and enjoy.