Press the Start button once, without the foot on the brake puts the Outback in ACC mode, where the radio works.
Press the Start button twice, without the foot on the brake puts the Outback in the ON mode, where everything works as if the engine was running.

 

Be aware that doing the above will drain a battery down.

What's the reservation to idling the engine?

 

Be aware that doing the above will drain a battery down.

What's the reservation to idling the engine?

Keep in mind also, that the battery saver circuit in the car will turn off the Accessory Mode, which includes providing power to the radio, after about 20 minutes or so. You can press the Start button again, without placing your foot on the brake, to re-enter Accessory Mode.

 

Why not get the Sirius app and listen it on her phone? When you return from shopping and start the car, it will switch from her phone to the car.

 

My car draws 5 amps in accessory mode with the radio on.

If you assume a 50 AmpHour battery, that would give you 10 hours of accessory mode from a full charge to a flat battery, which of course won't start your car.

Suppose your battery is only half full or so, from a lot of short trips perhaps, I would think you should still be able to get away with an hour of accessory mode no problem.

Keep in mind that if accessory mode times out, you will need the fob present to re-enter accessory mode.

 

I guess the above assumes she also has a key/fob in her purse ?

 

Or the driver leaves it with her, after reading that she'll need it to re-enter ACC mode when it times out..