Sonic Automotive, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance at December 31, 2012			$ (19,963)		$ (19,488)	$ (475)	$ (475)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			2,810		2,810
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			5,484		5,484
Other comprehensive income (loss)	217	(122)	8,294	(83)	8,294
Ending balance at September 30, 2013	$ (11,669)		$ (11,669)		$ (11,194)	$ (475)	$ (475)

- Definition

Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

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