Sonic Automotive Outperforms Competitors In Barron's 500 Rankings

    CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 25 Sonic Automotive, Inc. today announced it was named to the
47th position of the Barron's 500, a unique measurement of how companies have
performed for investors.  Sonic outperformed OEMs, parts manufactures and
other automotive retailers in this exclusive ranking which measures relative
stock and cash flow returns on investment of the 500 largest U.S. companies in
terms of revenues.

    HOLT Value Associates, a Chicago-Based consultant to institutional
investors and corporate managements around the world, compiled the Barron's
500 rankings.  The rankings were based on four criteria:  The stocks
performance relative to the S&P 500 for the 12 months ending March 31st.
Median cash flow return on investment (CFROI) over the latest three fiscal
years available.  Forecast growth in CFROI for the current year and revenue
growth or decline for the past year.

    "The latest Barron's 500 rankings reveal compelling grounds for evaluating
Sonic Automotive as an outstanding investment," said Sonic Automotive's
President and Chief Operating Officer, B. Scott Smith.  "Current market
conditions offer investors the opportunity to compare the strength of Sonic
Automotive's earnings, returns on capital, available growth opportunities and
cash generated from those opportunities to OEM's and auto parts manufacturers
or any other sector.  The strong consumer service and parts business, combined
with a variable cost structure, enable auto retailers to continue to post
strong profits even when new vehicle unit sales decline" said Smith.

    The announcement comes just after Sonic announced that it beat analyst
consensus estimates by 43 percent, reporting net income of $13.5 million, or
$0.33 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2001.  Sonic
has raised earnings expectations and has targeted earnings per share for the
year ending December 31, 2001 of $1.55 to $1.59 and earnings per share for the
second quarter of 2001 of $0.42 to $0.45.

    "Their results (Q1 2001) are outstanding, coming through in such a
difficult environment," Rick Nelson, an analyst at Stephens Inc. said.  Nelson
upgraded Sonic Automotive's stock to a "buy" from a "neutral" rating and
raised his 12-month price target to $17 from $12.