The sound in the first video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QxR5PqGMO8) sounds just like my Mazda P5 heat shield for the exhaust manifold vibrating. It stops when I press lightly on the heat shield. When I was first looking for the source of the noise, I thought it was my trans because it...
I took a look under there earlier this year when the oil pan rusted through. OMG. The whole underneath is a rust bucket. WTH. I was just sick looking at it. I had no idea it had gotten that bad. I even took it to the car wash periodically during the winter to avoid salt problems. :(
(omg) Sure did a number on that wheel. Glad your family is ok. Yeah, it's a heart breaker to see the b4 and after. I had a Plymouth Breeze get slammed when I was going through an intersection. It was totaled. Good luck with your new ride.