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Fair Value Measurements - Assets or Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring basis (Detail) (Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Of Assets And Liabilities Measured On Non Recurring Basis [Line Items] |
Long-lived assets held and used | $ 799,319 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentFairValueDisclosure
Goodwill | 475,929 us-gaap_GoodwillFairValueDisclosure
Franchise assets | 77,100 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillFairValueDisclosure
Total Gain (loss) on long-lived assets held and used | (4,394)sah_GainLossOnPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Total Gain (loss) on franchise assets | (2,200)sah_GainLossOnIndefiniteLivedFranchiseRights
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] |
Fair Value Of Assets And Liabilities Measured On Non Recurring Basis [Line Items] |
Long-lived assets held and used | 799,319 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis = us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
Goodwill | 475,929 us-gaap_GoodwillFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis = us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
Franchise assets | $ 77,100 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis = us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember

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- Details
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- Definition Gain loss on indefinite lived franchise rights. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Gain loss on property plant and equipment. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Fair value portion of asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19190-110258 + Details
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- Definition Fair value portion of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, that lack physical substance, having a projected indefinite period of benefit. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19190-110258 + Details
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- Definition Fair value portion of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19190-110258 + Details
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