Safe and sturdy. I guess for many of us the Catalina 34 sold itself. I could only mutter how much. We tend to dwell on the few minor problems because we are all believers. If you need to be SOLD on the 34 than you probably are not looking for the features of a cruising coastal sailboat that the 34 offers.
Condition seems to be a little more important than age.
The interior of the boat is very roomy. It doesn't feel as small as some other cruising boats. The engine is quite excellently accessible. On some boats, there is no hatch there or it is too small to climb through. It's useful if you're working on the engine and have the stairs out.