Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (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
Revenues:
New vehicles	$ 1,058,580	$ 937,709	$ 3,074,598	$ 2,611,988
Used vehicles	530,969	453,815	1,549,197	1,339,323
Wholesale vehicles	48,588	47,597	125,428	108,336
Total vehicles	1,638,137	1,439,121	4,749,223	4,059,647
Parts, service and collision repair	297,951	283,741	889,243	842,697
Finance, insurance and other	56,761	47,398	162,010	133,607
Total revenues	1,992,849	1,770,260	5,800,476	5,035,951
Cost of Sales:
New vehicles	(990,114)	(877,691)	(2,877,561)	(2,440,097)
Used vehicles	(495,915)	(418,576)	(1,436,339)	(1,231,720)
Wholesale vehicles	(50,931)	(49,053)	(130,134)	(112,270)
Total vehicles	(1,536,960)	(1,345,320)	(4,444,034)	(3,784,087)
Parts, service and collision repair	(152,965)	(143,141)	(452,618)	(421,711)
Total cost of sales	(1,689,925)	(1,488,461)	(4,896,652)	(4,205,798)
Gross profit	302,924	281,799	903,824	830,153
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(238,704)	(226,331)	(711,657)	(672,542)
Impairment charges	(102)	(87)	(160)	(132)
Depreciation and amortization	(10,340)	(8,731)	(30,099)	(25,729)
Operating income	53,778	46,650	161,908	131,750
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, floor plan	(4,348)	(5,430)	(14,766)	(15,615)
Interest expense, other, net	(15,116)	(15,226)	(45,986)	(48,024)
Interest expense, non-cash, convertible debt	(1,742)	(1,768)	(5,151)	(5,175)
Interest expense / amortization, non-cash, cash flow swaps	(313)	(1,484)	(599)	(5,402)
Other income (expense), net	(826)	(351)	(736)	(7,522)
Total other expense	(22,345)	(24,259)	(67,238)	(81,738)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	31,433	22,391	94,670	50,012
Provision for income taxes	(12,100)	(8,442)	(37,395)	(19,905)
Income from continuing operations	19,333	13,949	57,275	30,107
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from operations and the sale of discontinued franchises	104	(633)	(2,399)	(6,149)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(36)	(331)	840	1,617
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	68	(964)	(1,559)	(4,532)
Net income	$ 19,401	$ 12,985	$ 55,716	$ 25,575
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Earnings per share from continuing operations	$ 0.36	$ 0.26	$ 1.08	$ 0.57
Earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations	$ 0.01	$ (0.01)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.09)
Earnings per common share	$ 0.37	$ 0.25	$ 1.05	$ 0.48
Weighted average common shares outstanding	52,366	52,311	52,414	52,151
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Earnings per share from continuing operations	$ 0.33	$ 0.25	$ 0.97	$ 0.56
Loss per share from discontinued operations		$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.07)
Earnings per common share	$ 0.33	$ 0.23	$ 0.94	$ 0.49
Weighted average common shares outstanding	65,517	65,851	65,800	65,711
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.025		$ 0.075