Unwanted Driver assistants

Hi, I am new to the 996 forum but not new to Porsches. I am considering a 996 for a daily driver, but I do not like the traction control / dynamic controls of the newer cars. Were any 996s built (other than the race cars) without driver assists? Is the 1999 996 the model with the least interference? Can the traction control be turned off? Can it be permanently disconnected without affecting the ABS or other engine functions? Thanks in advance. Rick

Quotes source post: 12890378

Driven with a modicum of restraint and respect for what the car is capable of the traction control/stability control should never or hardly ever ever be activated. If you buy the car and then find you are seeing these activated my advice is to leave them on. They'll save you and the car one day.

Many 996 did not have PSM as an option

Quotes source post: 12890417

2003 C2 here with no electronic driver helpers except for ABS. As JayG says, there are many 996s floating around without helpers to keep you safe. I've experienced the lack of PSM on the track several times now - if you aren't thinking, or if you make a mistake a 996 without nannies will definitely let you know your limits.

Ditto. 2003 C2 Cab, no PSM.

Same here. '03 C2, no nannies.

2000 C2, only ABS as assists here.

The AWD 996 cars feature PSM as a standard feature, if I'm not mistaken. It's optional on the other models.

Shouldn't you also consider driving a 996 (if you haven't already) and see if the nannies are noticeable or transparent to you, or are a hinderance? Mine has TC that usually lights up the yellow dash light when driving in the rain somewhat aggressively , or especially in the snow (easily). Certainly the 'early' air-cooled Porsches would satisfy your desire to drive a 911 without nannies.

My 03 C2 has PSM but I can turn it off. (I choose not to do so) I doubt you'd notice them. GT3 has no nannies but doesn't need them.

Pro driver huh? Me too, those pesky traction control things always bring'n a brutha down

This is the age old argument about modern vs. earlier cars. My first car was a 1960 VW beetle. It had no seat belts and no gas gauge. But it did have:' -directional signals -automatic spark advance -parking lights -drum brakes -ultra skinny 5.60x156" bias ply tires -non-rear opening windows -no air bags -no radio -an automatic starter -no oil filter - requiring 1500 mile oil changes Compared to my '03 C4 Cab, I wouldn't trade back for anything. Most modern high performance cars protect yourself from you doing anything stupid. It is no accident (forgive bad pun) but the lawyers for every manufacturer are trying to make sure they can't be sued for your own stupidity. (Remember the woman who won a couple hundred thousand dollars after suing McDonalds for their coffee being "too hot". She had put it between her legs while driving. To my pleasure, the verdict was over-turned on appeal). There is now a movement (motivated by political correctness!) to fix open wheeled racing because a number of drivers have been killed by having some object hitting them in the helmet. Likewise, with contact football. If things continue as is, in under 10 years the only football will be flag football and you'll have to wear thick padding on your entire body to protect you during contact blocking.

Thanks to all! I did not know that the PSM was optional. Thanks. I appreciate as well the comments about driving safely and about how the traction control does not come on all the time. I know that traction control is a nice feature: I did not have it on my 1970 911E with an open diff when I was skiing in Austria in 1973. Didn't really need it then. But, I was thinking of a modern DD that had a similar feel to it, not a weekend warrior car (air-cooled or water-cooled). The 1999 996 seems to be the first Porsche with most of the creature comforts but not with the extensive safety control systems available in the later cars.

1999 C2 with no nannies, love it! But learn how to handle and respect these cars.

2001 C2 here with no PSM and with a LSD. I haven't driven one with PSM to know how much of a nanny it is, I have approached my limits on streets and you really, really, have to make some poor choices on dry pavement to get this car into trouble, I haven't yet. In wet weather it's a bit different and maybe more fun, but again, you really have to be doing something that involves a poor choice to get the car into trouble. Can't comment on the track. And IMO.

Note that the gen. 1 Boxsters were stock with only ABS - no PSM/PASM. The Boxster is a great platform for DD with no PSM... OP, you'll note that the "leave it on" crowd is sizeable. Although my '99 (since it was a C4 for the first 15 years) has PSM, I don't find that it interferes with MOST daily driving - and I'm a very enthusiastic driver. There are situations (some specific mountain roads, as well as when I know there may be sand/gravel on the road) when I disable PSM because it can activate at very inopportune times - but I leave it on probably 80% of the time when I'm just A to B-ing.

The rear-engined 911 design is battling the laws of physics probably more than any other car on the road, so I think the nannies are more beneficial safety-wise than they are in other cars. Porsche has refined the rear-engine design to perform as best it can in the physics battle, but Newton's laws are pretty obstinate, so the nannies are probably a positive as a safety net for most drivers. For people that have been driving older 911's for years, the nannies are probably a lot less necessary than for those whose 996 is their first rear-engined Porsche.

m3driver nailed it. Unless you are entering a drift competition there isn't a scenario where they should be interfering with your enjoyment of the car. Either drive better or more sensibly.

I think Schnell pointed out something interesting - PSM is not nearly the pain as similar features in any other vehicle I owned. In fact, our M roadsters traction control was so invasive I just turned it off every time I got in it. I think - in 10k miles of driving I've seen it come on twice.