I already did a search and didn't find anything relating to my issue as yet.

My 97 LX auto wagon has developed a noise that sort-of sounds like a wheel bearing but it isn't coming from either side. My father-in-law doesn't seem to know what the issue is and his mechanic said "sounds like a flex pipe but I'd have to put it on the lift."

Here's the issue:

Sound is a roaring that is consistent with the speed of the vehicle. Change in engine speed doesn't make a difference. It makes the noise while driving or while in neutral.

It sounds muffled, like a rubber part spinning and rubbing something but I can't see anything out of the ordinary.

It sounds like it's coming from the middle front of the car

Transmission fluid is nice and clean -- a little brown but still mostly pink

Transmission shifts fine, car isn't pulling and there's no CV axle noise

It started the other day while I was picking up my wife from work and then it's gotten progressively louder since.

Engine mounts appear to be good. CV boots appear to be completely intact. Tires are good.

This isn't like the noise I heard when the differential was starting to go in another fwd car I had but I'm afraid because my wife and I are broke college students and to spend $1500 on transmission repair on a car we just got is going to mean we may have to postpone a semester of school.

Thanks in advance,
Steve