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Fair Value Measurements - Assets or Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring basis (Detail) (Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member], USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Of Assets And Liabilities Measured On Non Recurring Basis [Line Items]  
Long-lived assets held and used $ 799,319us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentFairValueDisclosure
Goodwill 475,929us-gaap_GoodwillFairValueDisclosure
Franchise assets 77,100us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillFairValueDisclosure
Total Gain (loss) on long-lived assets held and used (4,394)sah_GainLossOnPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Total Gain (loss) on franchise assets (2,200)sah_GainLossOnIndefiniteLivedFranchiseRights
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
 
Fair Value Of Assets And Liabilities Measured On Non Recurring Basis [Line Items]  
Long-lived assets held and used 799,319us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
Goodwill 475,929us-gaap_GoodwillFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
Franchise assets $ 77,100us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember