Brake pads Ferodo or OEM Volkswagen

I have had good success with Ferodo DS2500 pads front and rear, OEM rotors, and RBF600 (or equivalent) brake fluid. The Ferodo pads were fine to use for the street (no noise, normal dust, and seem reasonably rotor friendly) and competent on the track.

Brakes are good

Ds2500 are at least oem dust level from what I've heard but better performance and they do squeak a bit.

Replaced my pads and rotors about a year ago. Went with some steel slotted rotors and Ferodo DS2500 pads, for a total of probably less than $1000 all around. The Ferodo pads are much more linear/progressive in feel, whereas in my opinion the OEM pads had way too much initial bite and were too grabby, which is less than ideal when you're trying to be smooth. Additionally, the ferodo pads hold out far longer on the track before fading, while still handling adequately for daily driving (including in the winter).

I'm using Ferodo DS2500. Good pad for both road and track duty.

Also, brakes are really good. They dust like hell, but stop the car well and feel good doing it. Confidence inspiring.

My brakes are also "grabbier" and harder to modulate than my '16 GTI (312mm), which had great brake feel.

I think my DS2500s were a good bit dustier than stock

Here is a shot of the front brakes. They're quite worn, below the legal acceptable thickness for a Phaeton and showing hairline cracks on the inside, the pads are also fairly shot.

Whenever I talk to people they don't say too much about reliability, but what they do say is how they hate the maintenance costs with VWs. $100+ oil changes, paying for maintenance items off warranty at dealer (brakes), etc.