My S8 has 42M miles on it, and since I am disatisfied with the braking performance I have been researching possible rotor/pad upgrades. My current stock brakes are smooth and vibration free, but just do not seem to have as much stopping power as I want. My parameters are: I don't do track days, but I do sometimes drive in a spirited way, where it is safe to do so. I want first brake application performance (one can't very well ask the deer to wait until I have warmed my pads please), so ceramic pads are out. I also do not want noisy brakes.

Currently, I am thinking of either of two alternatives and would appreciate feedback from others that may have more knowledge than I.

1. Stay with a quality solid, vented rotor - Brembo, EBC, Ulltimate Braking are the brands I am thinking of. PowerSlot seems to have its share of detractors and Zimmerman does not seem to be in the same league as the first three.
Use a better pad. The Hawk HPS seems to have many fans, EBC Red and Blue less so.

2. Use a better pad, again, the Hawk HPS, with either drilled, slotted, or both, or dimpled and slotted rotors. Again thinking Brembo, EBC or Ultimate Braking brand rotors.

I have read of the pros and cons such as cracking in drilled rotors, excessive pad wear with drilled/slotted ones - which others say you can avoid by using a high performance pad.

I would appreciate others experience, hopefully including A8/S8 owners. Specifically, if you stayed with stock type rotors, did a change of pad make a significant difference. Secondly, if you changed to a drilled or slotted or dimpled or combination of such, what brand did you use, what pad, and what was the improvement in braking and the affect on pad wear.