INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Sonic Automotive, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
Sonic Automotive, Inc. on Form S-3 of:

     *    our report dated March 17, 2000 on the consolidated financial
          statements of Sonic Automotive, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December
          31, 1998 and 1999 and for each of the three years in the period ended
          December 31, 1999, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of
          Sonic Automotive, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1999 (File No.
          1-13395);

     *    our report dated November 23, 1999 on the financial statements of
          Freeland Automotive, a business unit of South Gate Motors, Inc., as of
          and for the year ended December 31, 1998 and our report dated August
          13, 1999 on the combined financial statements of Manhattan Automotive
          Group as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998, both appearing
          in the Amendment to Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Current Report on Form
          8-K/A dated January 18, 2000;

     *    our report dated May 21, 1999 on the combined financial statements of
          Certain Dealerships, Assets and Liabilities of Lucas Dealership Group,
          Inc. as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and for each of the three years
          in the period ended December 31, 1998, appearing in the Amendment to
          Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated January
          27, 2000; and

     *    our report dated February 16, 1999 on the consolidated financial
          statements of Sonic Automotive, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December
          31, 1997 and 1998 and for each of the three years in the period ended
          December 31, 1998; our report dated March 26, 1999 on the combined
          financial statements of Williams Automotive Group as of and for the
          year ended December 31, 1998, our report dated March 16, 1999 on the
          financial statements of Economy Cars, Inc. as of and for the year
          ended December 31, 1998, our report dated March 26, 1999 on the
          financial statements of Global Imports, Inc. as of and for the year
          ended December 31, 1998, our report dated March 12, 1999 on the
          combined financial statements of Newsome Automotive Group as of and
          for the year ended December 31, 1998, our report dated March 15, 1999
          on the combined financial statements of Lloyd Automotive Group as of
          and for the year ended December 31, 1998, and our report dated March
          24, 1999 on the financial statements of Lute Riley Motors, Inc. as of
          and for the year ended December 31, 1998, all appearing in the
          Prospectus dated April 29, 1999 that was included in Sonic Automotive,
          Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
          333-71803).

We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the
Prospectus, which is part of such S-3 Registration Statement.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Charlotte, North Carolina

November 20, 2000