Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 01, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 83,724	$ 31,755	$ 47,244	$ 43,378
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	116,839	123,482
Carrying Value [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	83,724	31,755
Restricted cash	32,264	34,949
Liabilities:
Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility	556,392	797,430
Carrying Value [Member] | 7.75% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	247,648	247,543
Carrying Value [Member] | 6.625% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	300,000	300,000
Carrying Value [Member] | 5.125% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	300,000
Carrying Value [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities:
Other non-recourse debt, including current portion	83,556	88,650
Estimate of Fair Value [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	83,724	31,755
Restricted cash	32,264	34,949
Liabilities:
Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility	560,288	803,097
Estimate of Fair Value [Member] | 7.75% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	267,188	270,313
Estimate of Fair Value [Member] | 6.625% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	330,375	335,814
Estimate of Fair Value [Member] | 5.125% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	303,000
Estimate of Fair Value [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities:
Other non-recourse debt, including current portion	86,903	91,345
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	83,724	31,755
Restricted cash	32,264	34,949
Liabilities:
Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | 7.75% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | 6.625% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | 5.125% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities:
Other non-recourse debt, including current portion	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Liabilities:
Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility	560,288	803,097
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | 7.75% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	267,188	270,313
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | 6.625% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	330,375	335,814
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | 5.125% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	303,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities:
Other non-recourse debt, including current portion	86,903	91,345
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Liabilities:
Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | 7.75% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | 6.625% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | 5.125% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior Notes	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities:
Other non-recourse debt, including current portion	0	0
Australian Subsidiary [Member] | Carrying Value [Member]
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	33,283	34,832
Australian Subsidiary [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value [Member]
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	34,350	34,973
Australian Subsidiary [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	0	0
Australian Subsidiary [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	34,350	34,973
Australian Subsidiary [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	$ 0	$ 0