Sonic Automotive, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

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

Long-Term Debt (Details 5)

v2.4.0.6

Long-Term Debt (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Summary of the effect on financial statement balances due to extinguishment of 5.0 % Convertible Notes
Cash (cash paid to repurchase 5.0% Convertible Notes)			$ 164,896	$ 64,576	$ 249,190
Paid-in capital (stock issuance of 4.1 million shares at $16.6554 per share)			67,536
Paid-in capital (conversion option tax effect)			662	627
Loss on debt extinguishment (allocated expenses)	17,100	2,600	(19,713)	(1,107)	(7,665)
Paid-In Capital [Member]
Summary of the effect on financial statement balances due to extinguishment of 5.0 % Convertible Notes
Paid-in capital (stock issuance of 4.1 million shares at $16.6554 per share)			67,495
Paid-in capital (conversion option tax effect)			662	627
5.0% Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Summary of the effect on financial statement balances due to extinguishment of 5.0 % Convertible Notes
5.0% Convertible Notes (write-off of principal)			155,050
Other assets (write-off of unamortized debt discount and deferred loan costs)	(16,797)		(16,797)
Cash (cash paid to repurchase 5.0% Convertible Notes)			(164,896)
Loss on debt extinguishment (fair value less carrying value)			18,473
Deferred income tax liability			(662)
Loss on debt extinguishment (allocated expenses)			1,240
Cash (allocated expenses related to debt extinguishment)			(1,240)
Cash (allocated expenses related to stock issuance)			(333)
5.0% Convertible Senior Notes [Member] \| Paid-In Capital [Member]
Summary of the effect on financial statement balances due to extinguishment of 5.0 % Convertible Notes
Paid-in capital (stock issuance of 4.1 million shares at $16.6554 per share)			(67,869)
Paid-in capital (conversion option)			76,039
Paid-in capital (conversion option tax effect)			662
Paid-in capital (allocated expenses related to stock issuance)			$ 333

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