On 4WD version the PSM was standard since the very begining, there is no 4WD 996 without PSM, but I was under the impresion that it became standard on the 2WD Carrera in 2000. But perhaps I'm mistaken on that last part. I know for a fact that 98-99 996 models had the TC as optional (along with optional LSD, as long as you didn't get PSM because they were incompatible at the time), that is why I thought that after that they all had PSM standard since 2000, since there wasno more TC option like reginos says.
If that is the case and there is no PSM, and you still wnat to make sure it doesn't have TC, what I would do is check the option list sticker of that car which has the three digit codes of all the options fitted in that car, in the 996 it was usaully in a white sticker under the trunk´s hood, but here should be another sticker in the first pages of the maintenence book. For example if the car had the -10mm sport suspension then one of the codes printed in the sticker should be M30, sport exhaust is XLF, etc I don't know what the option code for the TC was but should be too difficult to find out. If you see the sticker and you don't see the TC's code amongst the rest of the codes then you know it doesn't have it. Otherwise the other solution is to ask to take if for a spin, and do a launch on a wet road and see if the rear wheels spin freely of if TC kicks in.
Personally if it doesn't have PSM I would pass on the car, there are plenty of 996.2 to choose from without having miss on the PSM, a very,very important safety feature for a street car nowadays, and TC is not a good enough substitute either.
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) and go for a 997 as you suggested.
