When my wife and I first moved to Charlotte we thought that our apartment gym would suffice. After about a month of that we realized that that would not be the case. So I did some searching and stumbled upon Sports and Fitness. It was really reasonably priced per month and it had a lot of the basics. I worked out there with friends for close to a year, but that gym didn't really provide a lot the inspire me to go over there, plus it was pretty far from home.
An apartment friend of ours encouraged us to give the Harris Y a try since it was nearby. We were skeptical at first, but took a tour one Sunday and we were hooked. We signed up that day and haven't regretted our decision a year later.
It's nice and spacious with a good selection of machines and weights. Basketball courts, an indoor/outdoor track, a bunch of free classes, and a nice Pool area. We love it. The staff there is really friendly. The monthly rates are affordable for all that they have to offer. It's also great for families.
Naturally, like most gyms, there are peak hours that can make things pretty busy. But I've been to the gym at all hours and it's never that bad. You may have to tack additional time to complete your workout, but i've definitely been a member at gyms where it's worse. And if you have a nice gym with great features the crowds are almost unavoidable.
My wife and I like it a lot here and we'd definitely recommend the Harris Y.