Porsche Stability Management (PSM)
Discussion
Personally I wouldn't buy a car *without* PSM....and I've had two. You can always switch it off if you want to get sideways.
Bloody wonderful system. PSM combines anti-lock brakes, throttle control intervention and a plethora of sensors. Its key abilities are
* to throttle back if you provoke a slide with too much right foot
* to brake opposing wheels independently to rotate the car back towards the intended course
It is this latter feature that distinguishes it from mere "Traction Control".
The system works marvellously well. On the exit of a corner in the wet the throttle control will intervene should you accidentally mash the accelerator into the carpet and will prevent the car from starting to slide. I should add that if you do this (whilst on track) you will be losing time - prevention is still better than the cure.
More importantly should, on the same corner exit, you encounter some surface undulation that, more unexpectedly, causes the car to lose grip suddenly (quite possible in the mid-engined, very grippy Boxster) the system will grab the accident and do its best to, inhumanly swiftly, return the car to its proper course.
Should this happen on the road it could very well be the difference between an expensive (or fatal) trip into the scenery and on into some hard unyielding object and the mere need to change one's underwear.
The side effect, of course, is that if you want to enjoy a little drifting you will need to switch it off.
Given that it is available, was only £750 new, and now will add very little additional value to a MY2001 car I would consider NOT obtaining it to be foolish...of course if your dream car doesn't happen to come with it you can take your chances and simply drive like a grown up (I have a TVR too).
It could save your life. Up to you!
Bloody wonderful system. PSM combines anti-lock brakes, throttle control intervention and a plethora of sensors. Its key abilities are
* to throttle back if you provoke a slide with too much right foot
* to brake opposing wheels independently to rotate the car back towards the intended course
It is this latter feature that distinguishes it from mere "Traction Control".
The system works marvellously well. On the exit of a corner in the wet the throttle control will intervene should you accidentally mash the accelerator into the carpet and will prevent the car from starting to slide. I should add that if you do this (whilst on track) you will be losing time - prevention is still better than the cure.
More importantly should, on the same corner exit, you encounter some surface undulation that, more unexpectedly, causes the car to lose grip suddenly (quite possible in the mid-engined, very grippy Boxster) the system will grab the accident and do its best to, inhumanly swiftly, return the car to its proper course.
Should this happen on the road it could very well be the difference between an expensive (or fatal) trip into the scenery and on into some hard unyielding object and the mere need to change one's underwear.
The side effect, of course, is that if you want to enjoy a little drifting you will need to switch it off.
Given that it is available, was only £750 new, and now will add very little additional value to a MY2001 car I would consider NOT obtaining it to be foolish...of course if your dream car doesn't happen to come with it you can take your chances and simply drive like a grown up (I have a TVR too).
It could save your life. Up to you!
Amazing option 
Drove my 911 with it in about 1" of slush and it just kept her pointing where she wanted to go. By the time you think about reacting it's already taken care of everything for you. While it can't overcome the laws of physics it can save a big insurance bill. If you have any doubt how good these systems are, try and dig out the clip of Tiff driving round cones on a frozen lake at 70MPH.
Drove my 911 with it in about 1" of slush and it just kept her pointing where she wanted to go. By the time you think about reacting it's already taken care of everything for you. While it can't overcome the laws of physics it can save a big insurance bill. If you have any doubt how good these systems are, try and dig out the clip of Tiff driving round cones on a frozen lake at 70MPH. Will add to this. I choose in on my 986S and if it had not been standard on my 987S I would have specced it. A far far better system than Audi's ESP and BMW's DSC. Not as snatchy as some systems and does allow some slip even when it is turned on. If you turn it off and start a spin, then hit the brakes it automatically re-engages to help you out of your moment!
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