CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 187,167	$ 178,258	$ 109,347
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from continuing operating activities:
Depreciation	53,995	47,101	44,523
Debt discount amortization		1,718	8,637
Earnings of equity method investments	(18,596)	(25,451)	(20,569)
(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	7,491	(2,091)	12,848
Deferred income taxes	83,838	47,187	27,568
Debt redemption costs	17,753
Gain on debt repurchase			(1,634)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(91,644)	(61,042)	(69,577)
Inventories	(326,235)	(90,091)	(185,185)
Floor plan notes payable	421,308	78,709	173,820
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	13,808	(32,896)	63,989
Other	(20,954)	(8,134)	43,649
Net cash from continuing operating activities	327,931	133,268	207,416
Investing Activities:
Purchase of equipment and improvements	(161,286)	(131,971)	(74,900)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	1,584
Dealership acquisitions net, including repayment of sellers' floor plan notes payable of $74,867, $54,453 and $9,883, respectively	(250,170)	(232,106)	(22,232)
Other	8,778	2,865	13,822
Net cash from (used in) continuing investing activities	(401,094)	(361,212)	(83,310)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from borrowings under U.S. credit agreement revolving credit line	761,300	663,400	632,000
Repayments under U.S. credit agreement revolving credit line	(843,300)	(531,400)	(632,000)
Repayments under U.S. credit agreement term loan	(17,000)	(7,000)	(15,000)
Issuance of 5.75% senior subordinated notes	550,000
Repurchase of 7.75% senior subordinated notes	(390,755)
Repurchase of 3.5% senior subordinated convertible notes	(62,687)	(87,278)	(156,604)
Net borrowings (repayments) of other long-term debt	48,195	30,218	(14,369)
Net borrowings (repayments) of floor plan notes payable - non-trade	65,329	202,938	64,036
Net borrowings of car rental revolver	23,171
Payment of deferred financing fees	(8,550)
Proceeds from exercises of options, including excess tax benefit		3,370	540
Repurchases of common stock	(9,829)	(44,263)	(751)
Dividends	(41,505)	(21,992)
Other	(1,116)
Net cash from (used in) continuing financing activities	73,253	207,993	(122,148)
Discontinued operations:
Net cash from (used in) discontinued operating activities	(4,531)	(70,546)	(8,097)
Net cash from (used in) discontinued investing activities	32,595	90,086	1,932
Net cash from (used in) discontinued financing activities	(11,602)	9,364	8,316
Net cash from (used in) discontinued operations	16,462	28,904	2,151
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	16,552	8,953	4,109
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	27,201	18,248	14,139
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	43,753	27,201	18,248
Cash paid for:
Interest	76,286	73,121	86,173
Income taxes	41,885	53,075	30,952
Seller financed/assumed debt		$ 4,865	$ 2,260