Beyond that, though, when I think of a full-size sedan, I also think in
> terms of stylish touches. Not particularly leather seats or
> appointments, but perhaps things like more footroom, perhaps individual
> headphone outlets in the back, maybe more plush upholstery. I'd also
> want the front seat to effectively be a bench seat with no center
> console. To me that OB sedan just looked clunky even though I'm sure it
> is actually pretty nice to drive.
>
Sounds like you're looking for something like the Ford Crown Victoria, or perhaps a Lincoln Town Car. I had a Crown Vic for my first car years ago, an '85 model. Horrid fuel economy, geriatric handling and design, not to mention downright scary in slippery conditions, but it had torque, comfort, and size. The current Vic isn't much different even 20 years later. I can't say that mine was reliable, but it did have 130-160k miles on it while I owned it. However, my Subaru has gone from 108-175k while I've owned it and has cost me mere pennies in repair costs by comparison. On the other hand, if I lived in a warmer climate and had money to cover the repairs and fuel, I'd take another look at the Crown Vic.
-Matt