[jdstein11]

I attended a session at Porsche Customer Experience Center Atlanta a couple of years ago in a Boxster S and loved seeing the differences between experiencing track sections with driver aids active and then deactivating them. I now have a 2018 718 Boxster and wanted to try out driving with ABS and other driving controls deactivated during a wet day recently. I tried pressing the ABS button on the console but nothing happened, so I thought I'd reach out to this group.

My car:

- 2018 718 Boxster
- Standard wheel (NOT multi-function)
- NOT using navigation or Porsche Connect

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[85Gold]

I attended a session at Porsche Customer Experience Center Atlanta a couple of years ago in a Boxster S and loved seeing the differences between experiencing track sections with driver aids active and then deactivating them. I now have a 2018 718 Boxster and wanted to try out driving with ABS and other driving controls deactivated during a wet day recently. I tried pressing the ABS button on the console but nothing happened, so I thought I'd reach out to this group.

My car:

- 2018 718 Boxster
- Standard wheel (NOT multi-function)
- NOT using navigation or Porsche Connect

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

You cannot turn off ABS nor do you want to. The brake bias is controlled by the ABS and the car would be dangerous if it is disabled.

Peter

 

[My718isPorsche#5]

If you are driving on a dirt road you can stop faster with aabs off. This is why most dual sport motorcycles have a provision to disable ABS when on dirt. I used to live on a dirt road & had a BMW R1200GS & ABS was bad on the dirt. I never did the test with a car, so it might not be as bad.

 

[aeronca65tl]

I think you are referring to PSM (Porsche Stability Management).

There is a button on the console that can turn that off (but it does not turn of ABS).

When I was picking up my 718 Cayman in December at the Atlanta PEC we did some of the track maneuvers with the PSM turned off (mostly to demo what it did). Normally it is left on.

 

[GregW]

AFAiK the PSM cannot be fully disabled, some remains on always.

 

[JakiChan]

That’s not what I was told at PEC LA. If turn PSM off (press and hold) it’s all the way. You can’t turn it completely off on the non-sports cars (SUVs, Panamera) but I was told you can on the sports cars.

 

[GregW]

That’s not what I was told at PEC LA. If turn PSM off (press and hold) it’s all the way. You can’t turn it completely off on the non-sports cars (SUVs, Panamera) but I was told you can on the sports cars.

Don't you just love the variety of "correct" answers?--especially by those who should know.

Here is what the manual has to say (two pages worth!):
Page 205 | 2017-2018 718 Boxster Manual | Porsche iManuals

 

[porkey]

That’s not what I was told at PEC LA. If turn PSM off (press and hold) it’s all the way. You can’t turn it completely off on the non-sports cars (SUVs, Panamera) but I was told you can on the sports cars.

Don't you just love the variety of "correct" answers?--especially by those who should know./forum/images/718forum/smilies/tango_face_sad.png

Here is what the manual has to say (two pages worth!):
Page 205 | 2017-2018 718 Boxster Manual | Porsche iManuals

...silly me...don't Porsches come with owners manuals anymore?...LOL...but the bigger question is....does anyone read them these days?...I've always considered this a necessity with any new vehicle, as well as being quite enjoyable!...just a thought?

 

[Viffermike]

...silly me...don't Porsches come with owners manuals anymore?...LOL...but the bigger question is....does anyone read them these days?...I've always considered this a necessity with any new vehicle, as well as being quite enjoyable!...just a thought?

I read mine, front to back, the night I take delivery of any car -- and, if I can find it online (as I did with the 718's), I read it BEFORE I take delivery. (That last bit is for those of you averse to printed books. No excuse for you!) >

 

[JakiChan]

Don't you just love the variety of "correct" answers?--especially by those who should know.

Here is what the manual has to say (two pages worth!):
Page 205 | 2017-2018 718 Boxster Manual | Porsche iManuals

And what I was told was correct. I wasn't speaking to ABS, just PSM and the notion that you can't turn it completely off. You said PSM cannot be turned completely off. That page tells you how to "turn off" PSM, which you can't do in SUVs. In the SUVs the only option is the PSM Sport mode.

 

[GregW]

And what I was told was correct. I wasn't speaking to ABS, just PSM and the notion that you can't turn it completely off. You said PSM cannot be turned completely off. That page tells you how to "turn off" PSM, which you can't do in SUVs. In the SUVs the only option is the PSM Sport mode.

Here is some more info that might help you sort out the details. From the US Press Information booklet for the 718:

"When equipped with the optional Sport Chrono Package, the Porsche Stability Management system offers a separate mode known as PSM Sport that is activated by briefly pushing the PSM button on the center console. PSM Sport differs significantly from the PSM On setting, and is now activated independently of the Driving Mode (Normal/Sport/Sport Plus). When the PSM Sport mode is activated, an indicator in the instrument cluster and the yellow “PSM Off” lamp are lit to inform the driver.

The new PSM Sport mode lets drivers approach the limits of the vehicle more closely on enclosed tracks. Compared to PSM On, the new mode permits much larger yaw angles as well as more wheelspin and allows the driver to experience the sports car's dynamic performance more intensely. It also makes it unnecessary to fully deactivate PSM. However, the PSM Off mode is still available by pressing the PSM button for a longer period of time, staying true to the Porsche philosophy of giving the driver full control over the vehicle. As a safety precaution, hard braking triggering the ABS activates the full range of PSM stability control until the brakes are released." (Emphasis added.)

 

[autobahn]

There is absolutely no need to turn off ABS for any reason on this car, nor are you able to.

If you're properly braking, you will never "get into" ABS in any situation where you need maximum braking force. This is called "threshold braking" and it's a skill you can practice.

Years ago, ABS systems were a lot less predictable and might engage early or whatever, so racers would disable them or pull the fuse. This is no longer necessary.

 

[Cinnamon]

Back about 1993 I took an Advanced Highway Driving course from Skip Barber Driving School at Sears Point Raceway. One part was a emergency braking test in a 3-series BMW, first several runs with ABS disabled trying our best with threshold braking, then with ABS enabled. That last run had significantly shorter braking distance -- interesting demonstration -- and the instructor said that even the most skilled drivers cannot beat the ABS.

On the road an emergency stop is best done picking a straight path and staying straight. Things are different on the racetrack where one is maneuvering and braking simultaneously, and not (hopefully) doing emergency stops!

 

[jdstein11]

Thanks for the info, but I already looked at exactly the same page, tried it in my car and nothing happened. I figured that something in my model prevented that - unlikely - or something was wrong.

 

[jdstein11]

I'll try the press-and-hold, but I have the base model and steering wheel, so we'll see.