Shock absorbers Bilstein or KONI

Koni shocks did the trick on my old Civic (not the same generation as yours), along with disconnecting the sway bars. Left the shocks on full soft with stock springs.

On my 2007 GTI when my stock shocks went I paired the Eibach springs I had used with the stock shocks with a set of Bilstein B6's and it was literally perfection.

How do those ride compared to stock? I just got bilstein 6112s put on mine with SPC uppers and it rides way better than stock even around town.

belstein 4600's are a great stock replacement, they came factory on the fx4 level 2's.

Bilstein B14 (non-adjustable) or Bilstein B16 (damping adjustable, rebound + compression together IIRC) are also decent choices, and I believe there are versions that will fit both FWD and AWD GSWs. My Alltrack on B14s appears below. I have them set within 1/2\" of the top of their adjustment because the tires are 245s and I don't want too much rubbing. The can go at least 1.25\" lower.

So far it rides really smooth, much better than the OEM suspension that has most likely been.

I’ve been running them for 2 weeks so far on my Mk6, the ride reminds me of my dads Porsche: sporty and mildly stiff but not bone rattling. They say it’s equivalent to the Koni Sport (yellow) on the softest setting. And that’s good bc you won’t need anything stiffer and you’ll never have to adjust/test/adjust with them.

The Bilstein B8's they have should be solid and properly valaved to the OE WRX spring rates. Bilstein makes good stuff.

Typical issues (my car had all of these save the throttle body): -Dampers are normally done by 80k miles -Front lower control arm bushings tear and fail

I've put the Bilstien HDs on several Weekenders and think they are too soft IMO.