EXHIBIT 23.1

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Sonic Automotive, Inc.
Charlotte, North Carolina

   
We consent to the use in this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement of
Sonic Automotive, Inc. on Form S-3 of (i) our report dated February 16, 1999 on
the consolidated financial statements of Sonic Automotive, Inc. and
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 and for each of the three years
in the period ended December 31, 1998; (ii) our report dated March 26, 1999 on
the combined financial statements of Williams Automotive Group as of and for
the year ended December 31, 1998; (iii) our report dated March 16, 1999 on the
financial statements of Economy Cars, Inc. as of and for the year ended
December 31, 1998; (iv) our report dated March 26, 1999 on the financial
statements of Global Imports, Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31,
1998; (v) our report dated March 12, 1999 on the combined financial statements
of Newsome Automotive Group as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998;
(vi) our report dated March 15, 1999 on the combined financial statements of
Lloyd Automotive Group as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998; and
(vii) our report dated March 24, 1999 on the financial statements of Lute Riley
Motors, Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998, all appearing in
the Prospectus which is part of this Registration Statement. We also consent to
the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration
Statement of Sonic Automotive, Inc. on Form S-3 of 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, 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 and
our report dated August 21, 1998 on the financial statements of Higginbotham
Automotive Group as of and for the year ended December 31, 1997, all
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus which is part of this Registration
Statement.
    

We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the
Prospectus, which is part of such S-3 Registration Statement.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina

   
April 26, 1999