The BE23 180 Hp Sundowner I used to own was a great plane.
(The Musketeer used to have something like 140 Hp and that was not enough for this beast.)
Heavy (unbreakable ?), slightly slower than an Archer, but faster climbing. And as told, CoG forward with full fuel and heavy front only crew. The solution is to put heavy things in the back. It could carry a fair load, 2 doors and lot's of room.
Only minor point was a shimmy from time to time in X-wind landings.
If you want the best of the lot, go for the Sierra;
- retractable an constant speed for less then an Arrow.
S.