Personally, I use "BrakeBest Copper Metallic" pads. They're carbon metallic pads with copper flecks embedded in the pad. BrakeBest claims the "Premium Copper and Carbon fibers dissipate heat providing longer wear and maximum performance". These are considered Performance Severe Duty pads. I haven't compared them to the much pricier Performance Friction pads, but I'm guessing they're pretty close in performance. I guess the quality is pretty good too, because they claim the backs of them are powder-coated. They also have a Lifetime Warranty. My friend that works at O'Reilly Auto Parts gets these for me for $22.74 a set (front), but they list for $52.97 a set. What I think is kind of cool is that these pads are manufactured right here in my home town of Springfield, Missouri. One thing about these pads, is that when you hit the brakes hard, you will feel a strange sensation that feels like grinding metal-on-metal, and the car will stop real quick. According to what I've read on Deja.com, this strange sensation is apparently quite common with all different brands of carbon metallic pads including Performance Friction.