The latter worked extremely well on my 2005 Forester XT. Bite hard from the first cold stop, doesn't stink and doesn't fade with heavy outdoor use. I would trust them for autocross, but I wouldn't use those pads (or stock Forester brakes!) on the track. The only downside to these pads is that they collect a lot of dust. However, more frequent cleaning of the wheels is a small price to pay for universal pads, so I am 100% satisfied. I can't say anything about the lifespan of the pads as I'veβ¦