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

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Cover
- Document and Entity Information
Financial Statements
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounting Policies
- Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
Notes Tables
Notes Details

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

v2.4.1.9

Long-Term Debt - Long-Term Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 794,625,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	$ 773,412,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Less current maturities	(38,237,000)us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent	(30,802,000)us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Long-Term Debt	756,388,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent	742,610,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
2014 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	0
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	200,000,000	200,000,000
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	300,000,000	300,000,000
Notes Payable to Finance Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	3,496,000	4,367,000
Mortgage Loan at Fix Interest Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	145,732,000	147,554,000
Mortgage Loan at Variable Interest Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	142,305,000	118,368,000
Net Debt Discount and Premium [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	(1,724,000)	(1,761,000)
Other [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 4,816,000	$ 4,884,000

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt, after unamortized discount or premium, scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Article 5

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer (current maturities). Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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