Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Summary Of The Fair Value And Carrying Value Of The Company's Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,526,950	$ 1,021,933	$ 1,630,433	$ 568,894
Marketable securities	153,380	140,118
Accounts receivable, net	219,039	262,382
Restricted cash held by variable interest entities	229,655	288,887
Accounts payable	255,713	225,346
Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	1,526,950	1,021,933
Marketable securities	153,380	140,118
Accounts receivable, net	219,039	262,382
Derivatives, Assets	16,443	37
Finance receivables, net	5,888,040	6,120,682
Restricted cash held by variable interest entities	229,655	288,887
Accounts payable	255,713	225,346
Derivatives, Liabilities	5,136	20,083
Unsecured commercial paper	874,286	582,572
Credit facilities	159,794	213,772
Medium-term notes	2,561,458	2,018,429
Senior unsecured notes	376,513	395,384
Term asset-backed securitization debt	2,099,060	2,805,954
Carrying Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	1,526,950	1,021,933
Marketable securities	153,380	140,118
Accounts receivable, net	219,039	262,382
Derivatives, Assets	16,443	37
Finance receivables, net	5,786,681	6,017,569
Restricted cash held by variable interest entities	229,655	288,887
Accounts payable	255,713	225,346
Derivatives, Liabilities	5,136	20,083
Unsecured commercial paper	874,286	582,572
Credit facilities	159,794	213,772
Medium-term notes	2,298,193	1,897,778
Senior unsecured notes	303,000	303,000
Term asset-backed securitization debt	$ 2,087,346	$ 2,755,234