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Sonic Automotive Announces Acquisitions of Four New Dealerships

2 March 1999

Sonic Automotive, Inc. Announces Acquisitions of Four New Dealerships and Closes Four Previously Announced Acquisitions

    CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 2 -- Sonic Automotive, Inc.
announced today that it has entered into definitive agreements to
acquire Lute Riley Honda in Dallas, Texas; Sam White Motor City in Houston,
Texas; and Charleston Lincoln-Mercury and North Charleston Hyundai in
Charleston, South Carolina.  The dealerships being acquired have 1998 revenues
of approximately $260 million.
   Combined, these transactions are valued at approximately $50 million.
Convertible Preferred Stock will be issued for approximately $11.5 million of
the purchase price, and the remainder will be payable in cash.  All of these
acquisitions are expected to close by the end of the second quarter or early
in the third quarter of 1999.
    Sonic Automotive is also pleased to announce that it has closed its
previously announced acquisitions of Rally Mitsubishi in Nashville, Tennessee;
Economy Honda in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Global Imports in Atlanta, Georgia;
and Infiniti of Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina.

    New "Hub" Acquisition
    The acquisition of Lute Riley Honda gives Sonic Automotive its first
presence in Dallas, Texas with a premier Honda dealership.  Lute Riley Honda
is the nation's second largest Honda dealership and provides Sonic with a
strong "hub" acquisition to support further growth in the Dallas/Fort Worth
market area.  The management team at Lute Riley Honda has been an innovator in
vehicle leasing programs and Internet marketing.  Rene Isip, General Manager
of Lute Riley, and his team will bring new expertise to Sonic Automotive in
the management of high volume, import dealerships.  The transaction also
includes Lute Riley Body Shop, a stand-alone collision center.
    0. Bruton Smith, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
stated, "The Dallas/Fort Worth market is one of the best automobile markets in
the United Slates.  Sonic now has the ability to execute its `hub and spoke'
acquisition strategy in this fast growing market.  Sonic is also adding to its
complement of outstanding dealer/operators with the addition of Rene Isip to
the Sonic management team."

    "Spoke" Acquisitions
    Sam White Motor City is a Nissan and Oldsmobile dealership in Houston,
Texas.  Sonic continues to build market share in this city by adding its fifth
dealership in this market.  Charleston Lincoln-Mercury and North Charleston
Hyundai give Sonic additional presence in South Carolina.  These dealerships
will become part of Sonic's South Carolina region under the leadership of John
Newsome.
    "Sonic's acquisition approach is driven by returns on investment.
Acquisition of `spoke' dealerships, like Sam White Motor City and Charleston
Lincoln-Mercury, gives Sonic the opportunity to leverage its existing
infrastructure and earn a higher return on capital," stated B. Scott Smith,
the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer.

    Sonic Automotive, Inc. is one of the leading automotive retailers in the
United States, with operations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina,
Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.  Upon completion of these
acquisitions, Sonic will operate 99 franchises and 25 collision repair
centers.
    Included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements with
respect to anticipated revenue growth.  There are many factors which 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 set forth from time to time in the Company's recent filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.