If you think it is not so good then what do you recommed to a newbie who is trying to figure out if suspension mods are necessary to spend money on.

 

strub tower brace and rear sway bar

 

save your money on a strut tower brace..just lower it I like the Tenabe DF210's....that will do it for most....if you want more rear sway bar and a chassis brace..depends on how far you want to go.....Most are happy with the the springs....

 

Actually, the xB handles surprisingly well stock.

Like most any car, it can be made better, but the stock suspension setup is MUCH better than I expected it to be.

If one is going to autocross, rallye, roadrace, or something similar, some stiffening would be a really good idea, but for everyday, legal street use? No, not really. It's just fine.

Biggest "instant upgrade" would be to get RID of the OEM tires and go to something decent.

 

Pretty much all you really will need is the strut brace and lowering springs. Those make the most difference IMO. Wheels and tires with shorter stiffer sidewalls will also help.