Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Revenues:
New vehicles	$ 1,035,272	$ 896,034	$ 2,016,018	$ 1,674,279
Used vehicles	536,196	466,659	1,018,228	885,508
Wholesale vehicles	41,480	29,934	76,839	60,739
Total vehicles	1,612,948	1,392,627	3,111,085	2,620,526
Parts, service and collision repair	299,523	283,785	591,293	558,957
Finance, insurance and other	55,781	45,614	105,249	86,208
Total revenues	1,968,252	1,722,026	3,807,627	3,265,691
Cost of Sales:
New vehicles	(966,760)	(836,742)	(1,887,447)	(1,562,406)
Used vehicles	(496,636)	(429,073)	(940,424)	(813,145)
Wholesale vehicles	(43,386)	(31,754)	(79,202)	(63,216)
Total vehicles	(1,506,782)	(1,297,569)	(2,907,073)	(2,438,767)
Parts, service and collision repair	(151,738)	(141,981)	(299,653)	(278,570)
Total cost of sales	(1,658,520)	(1,439,550)	(3,206,726)	(2,717,337)
Gross profit	309,732	282,476	600,901	548,354
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(240,439)	(225,558)	(472,953)	(446,211)
Impairment charges	(41)	(1)	(58)	(45)
Depreciation and amortization	(9,767)	(8,581)	(19,760)	(16,998)
Operating income	59,485	48,336	108,130	85,100
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, floor plan	(4,983)	(5,387)	(10,418)	(10,185)
Interest expense, other, net	(15,422)	(15,647)	(30,869)	(32,798)
Interest expense, non-cash, convertible debt	(1,715)	(1,730)	(3,409)	(3,406)
Interest expense / amortization, non-cash, cash flow swaps	(464)	(2,235)	(286)	(3,918)
Other income (expense), net	17	(7,235)	89	(7,173)
Total other expense	(22,567)	(32,234)	(44,893)	(57,480)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	36,918	16,102	63,237	27,620
Provision for income taxes	(14,767)	(6,510)	(25,295)	(11,462)
Income from continuing operations	22,151	9,592	37,942	16,158
Discontinued operations:
Loss from operations and the sale of discontinued franchises	(1,229)	(1,536)	(2,503)	(5,516)
Income tax benefit	429	380	876	1,948
Loss from discontinued operations	(800)	(1,156)	(1,627)	(3,568)
Net income	$ 21,351	$ 8,436	$ 36,315	$ 12,590
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Earnings per share from continuing operations	$ 0.42	$ 0.18	$ 0.71	$ 0.31
Loss per share from discontinued operations	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.07)
Earnings per common share	$ 0.40	$ 0.16	$ 0.68	$ 0.24
Weighted average common shares outstanding	52,461	52,249	52,438	52,070
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Earnings per share from continuing operations	$ 0.37	$ 0.18	$ 0.64	$ 0.30
Loss per share from discontinued operations	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.06)
Earnings per common share	$ 0.35	$ 0.16	$ 0.61	$ 0.24
Weighted average common shares outstanding	65,936	65,807	65,943	52,749
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.025		$ 0.05