Note 15 - Acquisitions (Detail) - Purchase Price Allocation (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012 Acquisition of MVI Group [Member]	Dec. 05, 2011 West Texas Peterbilt Acquisition [Member]	Nov. 05, 2011 Acquisition of Peck Road Ford [Member]	Mar. 14, 2011 Asbury Automotive Atlanta Acquisition [Member]	Feb. 21, 2011 Heintzelman’s Truck Center Acquisition [Member]	Oct. 12, 2010 Metro Ford Truck Sales, Inc Acquisition [Member]	May 24, 2010 Lake City Companies, LLC Acquisition [Member]
Property and equipment	$ 29,768	$ 5,302	$ 6,680	$ 9,871	$ 221	$ 1,645	$ 48,790
Inventory	51,501	7,017	2,525	21,004	3,125	974	10,722
Accounts receivable	5,638	3,626	771		264	30	5,955
Other assets			8				309
Accounts payable							(175)
Prepaid expenses	488			41	6		205
Accrued expenses	(200)	(357)	(79)	(453)	(2)	(14)	(3,622)
Floor plan notes payable							(275)
Notes payable							(178)
Franchise rights		1,730		2,802
Goodwill	17,340	7,301	90	22,022	1,050	2,957	9,298
Total purchase price	$ 104,535	$ 24,619	$ 9,995	$ 55,287	$ 4,664	$ 5,592	$ 71,029

The total purchase price of the acquired entity. This includes cash paid to equity interest holders of the acquired entity, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to equity holders of the acquired entity, and transaction costs paid to third parties to consummate the acquisition.

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The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to inventory, including finished goods, work-in-process, and raw materials.

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The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to prepaid expenses and other current assets. Does not include amounts allocated to cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, receivables, inventory, and assets not to be used.

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The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to receivables.

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The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to accounts payable of the acquired entity.

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The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to accrued expenses of the acquired entity.

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The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to other current liabilities of the acquired entity. Does not include amounts allocated to the current portion of long-term debt, accounts payable and accrued expenses.

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Amount of goodwill arising from a business combination, which is the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 52

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The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to an identifiable intangible asset that will not be amortized. Does not include goodwill.

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The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to notes payables and long-term debt assumed from the acquired entity.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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Amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to other noncurrent assets not separately disclosed.

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-Publisher FASB

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The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to property, plant and equipment to be used in ongoing operations.

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