What are the best first mods for a stock WRX VB?

If you read enough VB owner threads, a pattern shows up fast: the “best first mod” usually means maximum enjoyment with minimum risk. That is why the community keeps steering new owners toward sound and feel mods first: exhaust for character, wheels/tires for appearance and grip, and shift-stop / knob / bushing type mods for a better manual-trans feel. Power mods come later because they often drag tuning and warranty questions with them. In other words, the consensus beginner path is: improve the car you already have before jumping into intake/tune/intercooler territory. That is also why first-time owners are often told to decide whether their real priority is sound, handling, looks, or horsepower before buying parts.