FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
IUPPENLATZ MARK J
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC [SAH] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Exec VP of Corp Development
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC., 5401 EAST INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
11/14/2006
(Street)

CHARLOTTE, NC 28212		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Class A Common Stock 11/14/2006(1)   M   1,900 A $ 7.9375 50,700 D  
Class A Common Stock 11/14/2006(1)   S   1,900 D $ 28 48,800 D  
Class A Common Stock 11/15/2006(1)   M   200 A $ 7.9375 49,000 D  
Class A Common Stock 11/15/2006(1)   S   200 D $ 28 48,800 D  
Class A Common Stock 11/16/2006(1)   M   7,900 A $ 7.9375 56,700 D  
Class A Common Stock 11/16/2006(1)   M   20,000 A $ 10.0625 76,700 D  
Class A Common Stock 11/16/2006(1)   S   27,900 D $ 28.02 48,800 D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Options to Purchase $ 7.9375 11/14/2006(1)   M     1,900 04/05/2001 10/05/2010 Class A Common Stock 1,900 $ 0 8,100 D  
Options to Purchase $ 7.9375 11/15/2006(1)   M     200 04/05/2001 10/05/2010 Class A Common Stock 200 $ 0 7,900 D  
Options to Purchase $ 7.9375 11/16/2006(1)   M     7,900 04/05/2001 10/05/2010 Class A Common Stock 7,900 $ 0 0 D  
Options to Purchase $ 10.0625 11/16/2006(1)   M     20,000   (2) 11/01/2009 Class A Common Stock 20,000 $ 0 10,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
IUPPENLATZ MARK J
C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
5401 EAST INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD
CHARLOTTE, NC 28212		       Exec VP of Corp Development  

Signatures

 /s/ Mark J. Iuppenlatz   11/16/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Options exercised and shares sold pursuant to 10b5-1 trading plan.
(2) The options to purchase vested in 10,000 share increments on each of 11/1/2000 and 11/1/2001.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

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