Brake pads OEM Volvo or OEM Subaru

I use my brakes sparingly when I drive and rely heavily on engine breaking in my Subaru BRZ.

TS gang here. Cost difference for the brakes was worth it.

XC90 T8, total 135k km on the clock and have done 85k km ourselves:

- previous owner did the brake pads at about 40k km

- we have now done front and rear brake pads recently (so after about 90k km use), both front and rear still had about 3mm to go.

I’ve got a ‘21 XC60 T5 Inscription now with about 33k miles and absolutely love it. I’ve had a couple problems with the front, passenger side interior handle but they’ve been covered under the CPO ten year warranty. Wish it had full screen and wireless CarPlay but there are ways around it and replace the OEM brakes with better ones when it’s time as the Volvo ones suck as they wear quickly and unevenly. VERY happy with it.

I think the brake pedal has a good feel, but I absolutely have had an "oh shit" moment when I was cruising at 70mph and had to brake for traffic. They definitely underperform for a "sporty" car. But I wouldn't say they suck or dangerous

The car stops just fine, it just doesn’t have a great feel.

I personally don’t like the way my wrx brakes. That’s just my personal preference. But yes the car brakes just fine for every day driving and isn’t a problem.

I thought the brakes sucked

I still think the stock breaks on my 22VB needed more bite. They weren’t giving me the performance I wanted. My stock brakes didn’t give me that confidence. In the moments where I had to slam on the breaks, I still stopped safely, but it was a brown flag moment. They worked, but they didn’t inspire confidence. Additionally, I had issues with heat. Driving down the a mountain on a hot day (101°F), I needed to pull over and sit because my brakes were fading and my fluids boiling. Yes, the stock brakes will stop you. But I couldn’t trust them to stop me every time.

Stock pads are ass and spongy.