I'm looking to replace the blown out shocks/struts on my 2008 Honda Fit and so far every recommendation I've found with google is either for a full-blown race setup or to stick with OEM. The car is a daily driver that sees windy mountain roads but it will never be a race car and it needs to have a good ride on pavement. I wouldn't mind better cornering/handling on tight turns, but not if it's going to make my teeth rattle. Cost is also a big consideration--no new coilovers, no lowering kits. So, should I stick with OEM or is there something out there that would add a little performance without sacrificing ride quality or reliability?

 

I would go with a nice KYB or Koni setup. Getting more performance oriented shocks will be a great improvement over stock but not break the bank. A more performance shock will damper the hard corners better and give you better feedback.

 

I had good experience with KYB dampers on a few previous cars I owned.
Inexpensive, quality stuff Made in Japan.
Cannot go wrong.
Having said that I find the OEM suspension on my GK Fit quite impressive. Definitely above its pay grade.

 

KYB was the OEM manufacturer for Honda for most everything up until recently, so the Fit with KYB should be very similar if not identical to the Honda parts, for a slightly lower price.
I replaced the struts/shocks on my '06 Ridgeline with KYB and the ride was virtually identical to new, maybe a little bit more firm but that's hard to judge when replacing worn suspension after so many miles, OEM would have felt firm as well. Did the same with our Subaru. Very happy with the KYBs and how long they lasted as well.
The 2018s, on the other hand, have struts/shocks made by Boge from what I've learned, and the ride is different for sure.