EXHIBIT 23.1

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
Sonic Automotive, Inc.:

We consent to the use in this Registration Statement of Sonic Automotive, Inc.
on Form S-4 of (i) our report dated March 2, 1998 (March 24, 1998 as to Notes 2,
8 and 9) on the consolidated financial statements of Sonic Automotive, Inc. and
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1997 and for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 1997; (ii) our report dated February 20, 1998 on
the financial statements of Clearwater Dealerships and Affiliated Companies as
of and for the year ended December 31, 1997; (iii) our report dated May 22, 1998
on the combined financial statements of Hatfield Automotive Group as of December
31, 1996 and 1997 and for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1997; (iv) our report dated May 11, 1998 on the financial statements of
Economy Cars, Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 1997; (v) our
report dated June 4, 1998 on the financial statements of Casa Ford of Houston,
Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 1997; (vi) our report dated
August 21, 1998 on the combined financial statements of Higginbotham Automotive
Group as of and for the year ended December 31, 1997; (vii) our report dated
August 7, 1997 on the financial statements of Dyer & Dyer, Inc. as of December
31, 1995 and 1996 and for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1996; (viii) our report dated August 7, 1997 (October 16, 1997 as to Note 1)
on the combined financial statements of Bowers Dealerships and Affiliated
Companies as of December 31, 1995 and 1996 and for each of the two years in the
period ended December 31, 1996; (ix) our report dated August 7, 1997 (September
29, 1997 as to Note 1) on the combined financial statements of Lake Norman
Dodge, Inc. and Affiliated Companies as of and for the year ended December 31,
1996; (x) our report dated August 26, 1997 (October 15, 1997 as to Note 1) on
the financial statements of Ken Marks Ford, Inc. as of and for the year ended
April 30, 1997 appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration
Statement.

We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such
Prospectus.



/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

September 25, 1998