Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Sales revenue	$ 737,901	$ 572,997	$ 2,013,483	$ 1,550,732
Cost of revenue	614,230	469,808	1,668,055	1,268,864
Gross profit	123,671	103,189	345,428	281,868
Asset impairment			872	14,751
Selling, general and administrative	87,595	76,211	250,264	219,622
Operating income	31,875	22,796	81,699	34,274
Floor plan interest expense	(2,066)	(3,047)	(8,018)	(8,276)
Other interest expense	(3,082)	(3,718)	(9,395)	(10,832)
Other income, net	216	73	463	354
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	26,943	16,104	64,749	15,520
Income tax provision	(10,604)	(6,545)	(25,317)	(6,228)
Income from continuing operations, net of income tax	16,339	9,559	39,432	9,292
Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax	224	233	662	48
Net income	16,563	9,792	40,094	9,340
Basic income per share from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ 0.37	$ 1.50	$ 0.36
Basic income per share from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.02
Basic net income per share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.63	$ 0.37	$ 1.52	$ 0.36
Shares used in basic per share calculations (in Shares)	26,189	26,120	26,324	26,011
Diluted income per share from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.61	$ 0.36	$ 1.47	$ 0.35
Diluted income per share from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.03	$ 0.01
Diluted net income per share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ 0.37	$ 1.50	$ 0.36
Shares used in diluted per share calculations (in Shares)	26,654	26,328	26,738	26,191
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Depreciation and amortization	4,201	4,182	12,593	13,221
New Vehicle [Member]
Sales revenue	391,120	288,125	1,052,252	765,009
Cost of revenue	361,175	264,286	971,246	701,298
Used Vehicle Retail [Member]
Sales revenue	189,338	156,539	525,919	435,186
Cost of revenue	161,881	133,602	447,850	372,862
Used Vehicle Wholesale [Member]
Sales revenue	36,612	30,414	95,882	78,895
Cost of revenue	36,697	30,386	95,289	78,199
Finance And Insurance [Member]
Sales revenue	23,029	18,629	63,815	49,096
Service, Body And Parts [Member]
Sales revenue	87,669	76,169	245,148	213,926
Cost of revenue	45,034	38,850	125,725	109,113
Fleet And Other [Member]
Sales revenue	10,133	3,121	30,467	8,620
Cost of revenue	$ 9,443	$ 2,684	$ 27,945	$ 7,392