25 Ounces of Gold
For those of you worrying about inflation, here is a comparison.
100 years ago a Fort Model-T similar to the one in the picture cost about $500.
In the same year (1908) gold was sellinf for about $20/oz.
You could have purchased that model T for 25 oz of gold.
Today a new Ford Taurus costs around $24,000.
This year the price of gold has been around $800 an ounce and sometimes even above $900/oz
At $800+ per ounce a new Ford Taurus would cost only a bit over that 25 oz of gold.
Hmmmmm.
Looking at the features in a new Taurus it would seem a 2008 Taurus is a better deal. Let's check. There are more similarities than I expected....
As a comparison,
- The 1908 Model T got about 21 miles per gallon (some say more, some say less). The new Taurus gets upwards of 28 miles per gallon.
- The 2008 Taurus has keyless entry, so does the Model T.
- The Model T has leather seats standard, the standard Taurus does not, leather costs extra.
- The Model T has climate control. A top to control the rain, and a split windshield to control the air. The Taurus also includes climate control.
- The 2008 Taurus has radio commensurate with the times. The 1908 Model T has radio capabilities commensurate with its time.
- The Model T has spark advance and throttle on the steering column, the Taurus has its speed control on the steering wheel.
Both cars have four wheels, etc., however, although the similarities are many, the Taurus does have things that the Model T does not, a trunk, for example. You also get free air bags in the new Taurus. In the Model T you would have needed to bring these along. Also, there are other conveniences on the Taurus, like an electric starter, automatic transmission, interior lighting that does not depend on the moon or sun to work.
In fact, I would be willing to bet that if you could get a Model T for 25 ounces of gold or a Taurus, you might pick the Taurus. Especially after a test drive of each. But that is another story.
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