Time to the update this review after a bit over 6 months of membership.
This is a big, multi-level club with lots of equipment located right downtown (and within super close proximity of 2 other GoodLife's). GoodLife is the Target of gyms: it has a little something for everyone, it's nicer than a Wal-Mart, but no one would ever mistake it for a Saks 5th Avenue. I'll give you a tip (or sad fact) as you may see it at the end of the review.
The EQUIPMENT: This club has a pretty solid selection of cardio equipment spread out over 2 different floors with a generally well-maintained assortment of the standards: ellipticals (including my favorite with no handles), treadmills, stair masters, weird modern swingy-things (the technical term), etc. The upper floor has quite a nice view with a lot of natural light. There's sometimes a wait for upstairs cardio equipment, but if it's busy the first floor usually has something.
On the weights side, they have machines spread out over 3 floors, ranging from the standard pulley-type machines of a number of flavors, to the more intermediate Smith/Hammer style machines, to a pretty standard selection of free weight equipment. The machines can get busy, and the free weight area is pretty slammed, which is a little disappointing.
Maintenance of equipment seems to be a low priority here. Treadmills can go weeks without being fixed. Lately they've had tons of issues with the televisions. No one ever bothers to put weights or dumbbells back in place.
The change rooms are pretty clean and well-maintained. Showers are cubicles which are nice and private and provide body wash and hair products.
Unfortunately, some of the patrons have confused this gym with Steamworks (the gay bathhouse) and their idea of circuit training is to move among the dry sauna, wet sauna, and shower. Just be prepared for some number of mostly considerably older guys that are here solely to enjoy the locker room rather than the gym.
The STAFF: The staff really bring this place down. Trainers seem to have only two purposes: to sell memberships and personal training, and to do personal training. Trainers will never offer friendly tips to patrons that aren't paying for training. Furthermore, the way they train clients seems to be intended to make clients dependent on a trainer as opposed to teaching them how to work out independently. The trainers often are the worst abusers of gym etiquette when they work out off-duty...monopolizing multiple machines for long periods of time.
The COST: Well, I debated going here or the YMCA. The base costs are fairly similar.
***SAD FACT: The days of negotiating a price on the initial contract are over. I tried it at 3 different clubs, and no one budged. You're going to have to sign a 1 year contract. This is what happens when the fitness market consolidates to 1 major provider.
***TIP #1: Check with your workplace. Many of them have very cheap deals as low as $35-$40 a month that you can sign up directly through HR.
***TIP #2: Many workplaces have a slightly better corporate rate of $25 for every 2 weeks. There's a form you have to fill out, but it would appear that nothing is ever verified...cough, cough.
***TIP #3: Towel service is $10/month. If you live in a place like I do where you pay for laundry, that's the same price as washing my own towels if I go just twice a week.