I found that PSM can have pretty erratic behaviour when there is a combination of lateral and vertical acceleration, like a mid corner compression. Turn 9 in Laguna is typical. PSM reactions are so weird that it could actually throw the car out, much smoother when disengaged. There is a spot on HWY 84 which does this too.

 

I am going to make a general statement (doesnt apply to track driving)
NEVER turn the PSM off unless you are an experienced track driver at a race track.
Just my 2 cents, no negative comment please.

 

I agree with the Doctor,

I didnt turn my PSM off at my track that I am/was very familiar with until
the third event I had been to in my 996TT.

MK

 

Would not see the point in disengaging the PSM on open roads, but definitely do on track. The handling of the 996TT remains quite benign anyway IMO. We should not forget either that, less than a decade ago, supercars did not come with any kind of driving aids other than ABS, probably made drivers a bit less overconfident.

 

996 TT in the hands of Walter Rohl is 3 seconds quicker on the Nürburgring with PSM ON! That's good enough for me. I don't believe any of us here can be better with it OFF unless you want to look good with massive rear end slides - but that inevitably as we all track freaks know means you are slower. Jm2c.

 

That is misconstrued, there is no possible way that PSM can make you faster, NOT POSSIBLE. If you have something mental that keeps you disciplined from trying to keep your lines in order and keep the PSM from interrupting, and in turn go faster, then that's a personal thing, but dont for one second think PSM actually makes you faster in ANY way.

 

I am faster with psm on.

 

What is the source of this data ? I find this very hard to believe, especially on the Nordschleife.
All I am saying is that the TT's PSM is very misjudged in large mid-corner bumps, something you don't experience on many tracks, but that the Nordschleife is certainly not in shortage of.
One of the most reliable references for NS lap times is Sport Auto Horst Von Saurma's, I haven't been able yet to find explicit confirmation whether he clocked them with PSM on or off, but that would surprise me.

 

That's prob true in general, but I suppose there could be edge cases where you need to toss the car around a turn a bit "beyond the limits" and PSM does a better job gathering up the car than a human could. Not because of skill or reaction time, but because it's impossible to apply differential braking unless you are the PSM computer. A human could still "save it" but might scrub off more speed.

 

it has save me quite a few times. I know if I didn't have it on I would be picking up pieces. If I have to stop to pick up pieces it would most definately be faster. atleast for me.

 

Guys I really don’t wish to get into an argument with some of you over-here...

My information comes straight from Porsche Stuttgart – I know a lot of people over-there personally. Internal knowledge is that 911 turbo was driven quicker with the PSM on rather then off by Walter - period.

I recommend “the doubters� to get (download) yourselves Best Motoring Review on 996TT (driver is Akihiko Nakaya) where the same is confirmed. On a very short radical test track - all possible configurations including slalom, they clocked Porsche with PSM on 55.7 and with it off 56.5.

I have no idea why would you say you can drive car quicker with it off. Just drive at 150mph+ (on the track please) and swing slalom style left and right. With PSM off car is quite difficult to control – get ready for that opposite lock and a lot of steering work! With PSM on there is no drama at all.

Porsche is very unusual as cars such as Ferraris usually do better with stability off but PSM is really that good – trust me.

Don’t take my word for it just go on track switch it off and then on. Let me know your laptimes.

 

I have already done that and my laps times are the opposite. Unless the PSM can defy basic knowledge (which says that something that cuts power does not make you faster) I wont beleive that it can make you faster for any reason other than the one I stated above, If you drive as not to have it interfere (with it on), you can be faster, no doubt about it.

It can be possible that the interference that PSM still has when turned off could be a factor in slowing one down, but it cannot possibly be faster than no PSM at all - PERIOD.

 

PSM is fully off except when you are on the brakes if the orange PSM light is on. You should be bale to do donuts and spin the tires to your heart's content. Panic and hit the brakes and it will come until you get off the brakes.

 

Heavy - First the RWD debate (let's not get into it) and now with PSM. I don't get it. There are facts which show it is faster (in both curcumstances), but you're screaming that it can't be because of your feeling about it. Maybe you are faster, but the ones who test the car professionally have shown otherwise. They're not out to prove the merits of PSM and alter the results to cram it down everyones throats. The fact is that a computer can react far far more quickly than either your or my hands and feet to forces at play in accel, decel, and lateral g forces. This is a fact, and there is no such thing as a perfect driver. If the computer is coming on for a millisecond to brake for one wheel or another, it's not to slow you down but to keep the car stable and allow you to go faster by being able to utilize more of the power if anything.

If it's faster for you then great pull the fuse and be done with it - I know in a straight line it is. But it seems to be true that the car itself has the potential to be driven on a road course even faster with it on. Maybe learning to work with it is worth a try.

 

Unless you have some info to contribute to the discussion, you can shutup. Thanks.