This is kinda retarded question but can someone describe to me what it actually sounds like. See, I don't wanna ignore the sound thinking it's just another car noise. What about vibration and performance of car?

Can u hear it at idle, WOT? etc?

 

well knocking you hear at idle,pinging you hear under load.

pinging: to low octane,or main reason to advanced ignition timming.

knocking: not under load, you will hear it at idle when you rev up.

ticking: out of adjustmaent valves,main cause loose.

 

You hear it when the engine is under load, like going up hill. As a former owner of a 1980 mustang, and after driving my mom's 92 topaz, I was used to it!

It's like ticking and knocking, it's intermittent and you can't miss it. The only thing is, on a scale of 1 to 10, audible detonation is happening at around 9, so it can still be happening and doing it's damage and you may not hear it.

 

Damn....only at level 9 it's audible.
So the sound is really distinct? to the point where i cna't miss it?

What about performance wise? When ur knocking/pinging, does ur performance go shitty? I heard u have a hard time starting car in this condition