Sonic Automotive Calls 11% Senior Subordinated Notes

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 13, 2003 -- Sonic Automotive, Inc. announced today that it is calling all of its outstanding 11% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 for redemption on September 10, 2003. The Notes will be redeemed at a redemption price of $1,055 per $1,000 face amount plus accrued and unpaid interest through September 9, 2003. The redemption will be funded from proceeds of Sonic's recently completed private offering of 8 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013.

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the senior subordinated notes due 2008 or the senior subordinated notes due 2013 or any other security of the Company. The senior subordinated notes due 2013 have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and were sold to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A and to other eligible purchasers pursuant to offers and sales that occurred outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Act. Unless so registered, the senior subordinated notes due 2013 may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Act and applicable state securities laws.

Included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to the anticipated redemption by the Company of its outstanding senior subordinated notes due 2008. There are many factors that affect management's views about future events and trends of the Company's business. These factors involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results or trends to differ materially from management's view, including without limitation, economic conditions, risks associated with acquisitions and the risk factors described in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 4, 2003. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information.