Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Revenues:
New vehicles	$ 1,247,161	$ 1,185,654	$ 2,390,217	$ 2,217,044
Used vehicles	538,977	534,637	1,065,158	1,036,501
Wholesale vehicles	40,032	42,552	91,825	86,225
Total vehicles	1,826,170	1,762,843	3,547,200	3,339,770
Parts, service and collision repair	307,046	295,340	603,689	587,895
Finance, insurance and other	69,220	63,763	134,714	121,347
Total revenues	2,202,436	2,121,946	4,285,603	4,049,012
Cost of Sales:
New vehicles	(1,179,371)	(1,115,715)	(2,255,958)	(2,083,387)
Used vehicles	(501,368)	(498,918)	(989,519)	(961,384)
Wholesale vehicles	(41,975)	(43,791)	(94,970)	(87,231)
Total vehicles	(1,722,714)	(1,658,424)	(3,340,447)	(3,132,002)
Parts, service and collision repair	(155,916)	(150,670)	(308,330)	(300,404)
Total cost of sales	(1,878,630)	(1,809,094)	(3,648,777)	(3,432,406)
Gross profit	323,806	312,852	636,826	616,606
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(248,090)	(239,751)	(493,914)	(476,900)
Impairment charges	(36)	(33)	(51)	(34)
Depreciation and amortization	(13,144)	(11,210)	(25,278)	(22,105)
Operating income (loss)	62,536	61,858	117,583	117,567
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, floor plan	(5,591)	(4,857)	(10,804)	(9,120)
Interest expense, other, net	(14,390)	(13,835)	(28,749)	(30,244)
Other income (expense), net	(28,265)	(2,553)	(28,170)	(2,533)
Total other income (expense)	(48,246)	(21,245)	(67,723)	(41,897)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	14,290	40,613	49,860	75,670
Provision for income taxes - benefit (expense)	(5,573)	(11,615)	(19,445)	(25,527)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	8,717	28,998	30,415	50,143
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from operations and the sale of dealerships	361	(1,089)	(377)	(2,265)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(162)	270	169	799
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	199	(819)	(208)	(1,466)
Net income (loss)	$ 8,916	$ 28,179	$ 30,207	$ 48,677
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations	$ 0.16	$ 0.54	$ 0.57	$ 0.94
Earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations	$ 0.01	$ (0.01)		$ (0.03)
Earnings (loss) per common share	$ 0.17	$ 0.53	$ 0.57	$ 0.91
Weighted average common shares outstanding	52,597	52,593	52,591	52,409
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations	$ 0.16	$ 0.48	$ 0.57	$ 0.83
Earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations	$ 0.01	$ (0.01)		$ (0.02)
Earnings (loss) per common share	$ 0.17	$ 0.47	$ 0.57	$ 0.81
Weighted average common shares outstanding	52,942	63,506	52,937	63,963
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.025	$ 0.025	$ 0.05	$ 0.05