Porsche Stability Management

[ngoc8or]

I made a big mistake in thinking that the Porsche Stability Management was standard on the Boxster. Now, after purchasing a 2004, I find that this is optional equipment and my car does not have it. Is it possible to add this feature to the car, or is this something that can only be integrated in the car as it is being built?

[Tool Pants]

This and questions like this get asked all the time.

Enjoy your car the way it is.

[DOCKIRSCH]

I have PSM in my 2003 Boxster S. I use the car everyday even in snow. The PSM works really well despite my initial doubts. If you aren't pushing the tires to the limit and driving in dry conditions you should be fine without it.

I push the car pretty hard at times and it only activates when the ground it wet or snow covered. Obviously, it's much harder to oversteer with PSM activated and often decreases acceleration times.

I have to agree with the other posting. Don't sweat it and just enjoy!

[DANNOV]

The Aug 2001 issue of Excellence has an excellant article in which the instructors at the Porsche Driving Experience commented about each of the Porsche models from the Turbo to the base Boxster. Included were comments from Hurley Haywood, Dav Murry, Doc Bundy, Dav Donahue and Pierre Savoy. Their comments about PSM were interesting. Here are a few:
"While PSM is the "killer app" for taming those overpowered cars, it is barely needed in the base Boxster" In all the hot lap track testing for the article, "the base Boxster was the only car where PSM did not intervene even once".
They commented that in one year during the Driving Experience school their Boxster S did not have PSM and according to the instructors, "the Boxster S was the one we had drama with." They made another interesting comment on the Boxster S' "Here's a factory offering that comes closer to being an as delivered racing car than anything else Porsche offers in the US"
The basic idea you come away with after reading the article is that PSM is a great option to have, but the base Boxster is very nimble, forgiving and hard to provoke, and there is less of a need for it on this car. The Boxster S is a different story and PSM is definitely a needed option on this car, they feel that this is also true of the 996 Turbo and the Carrera.
I would post this article for everyone to see but I have a copy of a copy and it would be very hard to read.

[DANNOV]

As a follow up to my last post. The article was published in 2001. At that time the base Boxster had 217 hp and the Boxster S had 250 hp. I don't know what the hp is on the 2004 models but it is likely higher than in 2001. But I doubt if a 2004 base 2.7 Boxster has a hp rating approaching the 2001 3.2 Boxster S. So, the base Boxster is probably still a smooth handling car.
I would recommend the Excellence article to all Boxster owners, it is the best summary of insights from experienced drivers about the Boxster, and the other Porsche models, that you will find anywhere.

[Tool Pants]

The S got 8 hp more for 2003 and the 550 special edition (which is an S) get another 6 on top of the 8.

[ngoc8or]

Thanks, Dannov. That is very helpful. Makes me feel even better that I got such a great car.

[alt4f]

its been raining here off and on, and we just got our boxter.
I can feel the PSM do its job when taking a corner and accelerating out to quick.

Im used to my 73 Super beetle so i expect over steer in the boxter, but its like its on rails!!

[cloud964]

Hey Buddy,
If yours don't come with PSM, just get a drivers education. Improve your skill and you won't need it.

[kirk4]

My 02 S does not have PSM. Every artical I read before purchase the tester turned off the PSM and liked the car better, that told me something. I don't know what I'm missing but I love my car just the way it is. I thought of everything I needed after purchase and ended up doing nothing and loving the car, enjoy.