I can lift four adults weighing 672lbs, more or less three quarters tanks and about 100lbs of baggage in a C182 from a sensible length runway at sea-level or thereabouts. It's technically OK. Luckily it's also legal and in accordance with the POH.
If you want to lift four adults and go anywhere practical, a PA28 or a 172 is unlikely to cut it.
If you want something completely different, which isn't outrageously expensive (although you'll have to buy either a whole one or a share), get hold of a Yak-18T. That'll lift four easily and you also have the advantage of a fully aerobatic machine two-up.
