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Detail of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts (Property and Equipment) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 dealerships	Sep. 30, 2014 dealerships	Sep. 30, 2013 dealerships	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses	$ 138,800,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	16,600,000	17,300,000	10,400,000
Property and Equipment
Total	1,056,048,000	1,056,048,000		974,086,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	196,709,000	196,709,000		177,730,000
Property and equipment, net	859,339,000	859,339,000		796,356,000
Capital expenditures incurred for purchase and construction of assets		59,700,000
Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived	8,100,000	8,100,000
Land [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	294,475,000	294,475,000		269,778,000
Acquisition of fixed assets		23,800,000
Buildings [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	428,784,000	428,784,000		405,918,000
Buildings [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P30Y
Buildings [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P40Y
Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	128,887,000	128,887,000		120,531,000
Leasehold improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	varies
Machinery and equipment [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	85,420,000	85,420,000		79,209,000
Machinery and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P7Y
Machinery and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P20Y
Furniture and fixtures [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	76,162,000	76,162,000		70,918,000
Furniture and fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P3Y
Furniture and fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P10Y
Company vehicles [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	10,517,000	10,517,000		8,508,000
Company vehicles [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P3Y
Company vehicles [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P5Y
Construction in progress [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	31,803,000	31,803,000		19,224,000
Land and Building [Member]
Property and Equipment
Acquisition of fixed assets		47,000,000
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [member]
Property and Equipment
Capital expenditures incurred for purchase and construction of assets		2,800,000
U.S. [Member]
Property and Equipment
Number of dealerships acquired		7		9
Number of Franchises Acquired		1
Number of Dealerships Disposed	5	7	6
U.S. [Member] | Assets Held-for-sale [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses	129,000,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	$ 16,700,000
Property and Equipment
Number of Dealerships Disposed	3

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Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services.

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Long-lived assets that are held for sale apart from normal operations and anticipated to be sold in less than one year.

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The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

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