Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Long-Term Debt - Long-Term Debt (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Long-Term Debt - Long-Term Debt (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt $ 773,412us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount $ 748,373us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Less current maturities (30,802)us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent (18,216)us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Long-Term Debt 742,610us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent 730,157us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2022 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 200,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= sah_SevenPercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
200,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= sah_SevenPercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 300,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
300,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
2014 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 
Notes Payable to Finance Company [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 4,367us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember
7,629us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember
Mortgage Loan at Fix Interest Rate [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 147,554us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_MortgageLoanAtFixInterestRateMember
157,571us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_MortgageLoanAtFixInterestRateMember
Mortgage Loan at Variable Interest Rate [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 118,368us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_MortgageLoanAtVariableInterestRateMember
79,893us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_MortgageLoanAtVariableInterestRateMember
Net Debt Discount and Premium [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt (1,761)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DebtAtDiscountAndPremiumMember
(1,800)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DebtAtDiscountAndPremiumMember
Other [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt $ 4,884us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_OtherDebtMember
$ 5,080us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_OtherDebtMember