I put the Hawk HP Street 5.0 pads from Hawk Performance on my 2017 VW GTI SE manual a couple of years ago and have been absolutely loving them.
Quiet, great stopping power, and they are decently priced (compared to other performance pads I’ve tried on other vehicles). I got mine for $122.40 after tax on Tire Rack, but you can find them in a few online retailers – I’m not sure about in-store availability.
They are everything I look for in upgraded street pads in comparison to the OEM pads. As their website says “HPS 5.0 is a Ferro-Carbon compound that provides advanced braking characteristics to enhance the driving experience. This compound combines the safety and quality of aerospace design with the braking technology of motorsports. The results are shorter stopping distances, improved performance under heavy braking conditions, and street car friendly characteristics.” – hawkperformance.com
Now they are going for around 180 for front pads (I still need to do my rear pads here shortly)
I tend to use my brakes more than engine braking, so I have a pretty good idea how they feel. A bit soft on the initial response (which I like personally). They grab nicely when you put adequate pressure. Used them in the snow for a season, and they do well with the ABS when sliding on ice.
My only gripe with them is they seem to produce more dust than the OEM – so cleaning the wheels takes a bit longer and I can live with that. I’ll certainly buy them again when I need to replace my pads on my MK7.
Note to self: When I do replace them, I’ll try to come back with the pictures and the mileage achieved with the Hawk hp street 5.0 pads