PA-28-180s got the stretch with the 235s, in 1973. They were called Challenger and Charger respectively, then the designation was dropped for Pathfinder and Archer in 1974, until they were both superseded by the taper wing variants (181/236) of the same, called Archer II and Dakota.
I would not recommend bothering with the short fuses for a mission that wishes to emphasize family interaction, the leg room is worthless. For a 2 person dedicated airplane, these short fuses offer a good discount for essentially a de facto extra luggage area. You'll see pricing reflect that change in pretty much the entire line of PA28 variants and even in the PA24/30 line. When it comes to family, pax comfort goes above cruise speed.