My last post got NO replies and I think I may need to clarify just what it is I'm asking about.
I am in need of new rotors and pads on a recently acquired '02 DeVille. I'm wondering if it is worth the expense to upgrade to a (supposedly) better aftermarket, (slotted/drilled rotors, ceramic pads), or stay OEM. I am easy on the vehicle but I'm wondering if I will get longer component life out of the more expensive parts.

If you have a base Deville and are "easy" on the car, then there is no performance or longevity to be gained by spending $450+ on pads/rotors.

If you have open spoke stock wheels (you can see the rotor easily) a set of EBC Black Dash rotors and Redstuff pads will give you longevity and a couple of notches up in the hard braking department, as well as a visual boost. And EBC states that those rotors and pads are their quietest (after proper break-in) and cleanest combination.

Drilled rotors tend to be more noisy and will wear pads in a grooved manner. Some have experienced rotor cracking at the drill holes. The various ads for "racing" rotors and pads and cryogenically frozen rotors are nothing more that hype and bling for a daily driver. Such applications may have some use in a road racing meet, but ??? Don't forget that drilling decreases the amount of friction surface so you actually lose some braking efficiency with drilled (and to a lesser degree with slotted) rotors. The old saw that drilled/slotted rotors pass off pad-generated braking gasses more quickly is true, but the rotor temperatures needed to generate such gasses will never occur in daily driving. Two panic stops from 100, yes. Never otherwise.

....I am in need of new rotors and pads on a recently acquired '02 DeVille. I'm wondering if it is worth the expense to upgrade to a (supposedly) better aftermarket, (slotted/drilled rotors, ceramic pads), or stay OEM.My recommendation based on empirical evidence is - go with OEM specified parts for a daily driver.

The various systems on your car are very tightly integrated and include brake warnings (temperature related) that 90+% of drivers would never see. But the use of aftermarket parts renders these warning useless and uncalibrated.I am easy on the vehicle but I'm wondering if I will get longer component life out of the more expensive parts.I too am 'easy on the vehicle'. The last time I replaced any pads or rotors using OEM parts on my high-mileage '98 Seville was 80,000+ miles and 6+ years ago.

Understand that I am one of those people that completely refresh the brake fluid on a two year schedule.

Your car, your money.

Message received. You both made great points. I'll be staying OEM. Thank you.