I started experimenting with lowering my punto from the start I bought it. Standard springs roll far too much. Although the car can handle it and you can push it hard with some practice, you always feel is going to roll over. I experimented with some springs but now have settled to 35mm lowering springs, standard new shocks and tyres. The handling is now the best compromise for my type of driving. I can through it in corners with no worries. The suspension is still compliant and it can handle reasonably bad road surfaces without having to slow down. Obviously the car is more nervous on bad road surface but this is a compromise I accept. Also high speed motorway driving feels more secure then standard suspension setup, but the ride is more nervous and is upset bad road surface. Moving any lower will need coilover setup but will make the ride even harder with no more advantages in handling. Adding wider tyres will improve handling but there is no power so basically a pointless exercise unless you are looking for looks.

Do the full package with correct rated springs and shocks with new bushes and lower it a bit, but the 50mm+ that's often seen on boy racer cars is only worth having for a track car that never sees normal road surfaces.

The first demand for good handling is for the tyres to follow the road surface. That needs a useful wheel travel and compliant springs. Both are compromised when you drop the ride height too much. Body roll alone is only a small factor and far less disadvantage than the tyres skipping & jiggling down the road on a slammed car.

Compare the cornering of an HGT with a plain vanilla 1.2 and even though its got a heavier engine the difference is in a different world. HGT (and Sporting I believe) are only 20mm lower than more basic cars. Others may have full details on that. As @Dumbeldore says (unless its for cosmetics) good handling needs the full package or its a waste of money.

For folks who want the slammed look and are happy to drive slowly or just how it looks when parked its all fine. But the jiggly ride does look silly TBH.

my cars lowered on 50mm spring pn 15" alloys tbh i think its just the right height and good to look at .