The Skyhawks as described all have their good and compromise points. The good points are solid, predictable, and repairable! For any of them, parts are obtainable.
Legacy PA28s are good planes as long as they don't need to be repaired. But if a legacy PA28 has corrosion or physical damage which requires replacement of structural parts, the owner could be in for a very nasty surprise - and have a grounded plane - forever. I know of two Arrows to which this has happened. Even hail damage could require skin replacement, where that same damage on a 172 would be declared negligible, and the aircraft allowed to remain in service as is. I fly them both happily - but I own a Cessna.
The Continental engines are fine if well maintained. The rare Lycoming suddenly stops too....