Today we’re celebrating the season with a massive gathering of the Southern California Tesla community. We started the day caravanning from Ontario and Santa Ana to meet up at Tesla Riverside for their annual toy drive.
It wasn’t just about the mission, though. Between checking out Foundation Series Cybertrucks and seeing Optimus Prime (yes, the Tesla bot!) in person, I finally got behind the wheel—well, the passenger seat—of the new Model 3 Highland Performance. Let’s dive into the technical details and the community highlights.
Community in Action: The Riverside Toy Drive
The turnout was incredible. We had a sea of Model 3s, Model Ys, and even some non-Tesla EVs like the Mustang Mach-E. It was great to see familiar faces like Andrew (Socal Teslaruns) and Brian (OG Cyber).
Inside the Riverside studio, Tesla had a Foundation Series Cybertruck with the white interior on display, which looks incredibly sharp in person. But the real head-turner was the Tesla Optimus Bot. Seeing the physical progress of Tesla’s robotics up close makes you realize how much tech is being crammed into these humanoid forms.
The Model 3 Highland Performance: Truly “Insane”
I teamed up with Andrew and Frank (who actually owns the new Highland) to put the Model 3 Performance through its paces. I’ve driven the Long Range Highland before, and while that was impressive, the Performance is on a whole different level.
The Experience:
- The Seats: The first thing you notice is the “hug.” These new bucket seats are incredibly comfortable and keep you planted during hard cornering. Plus, the ventilated seats are a massive win for those of us in the SoCal heat.
- The Quiet: Once the windows are up, the acoustic glass and improved sealing make it noticeably quieter than the previous generation.
- Insane Mode: Even coming from a Model X Plaid, the acceleration on this lighter, more nimble car made my microphone fly back! It feels punchy, direct, and incredibly balanced.
Quick Spec Comparison: Model 3 Highland Performance
| Feature | Performance Note |
| Drive Mode | Insane Mode (Tested) |
| Handling | Sport Mode (Instantly stiffens the suspension) |
| Comfort | Ventilated Bucket Seats |
| Tech | New Rear Screen controls for climate and media |
High-Mileage Legends: Hank McCoy (The Beast)
I also caught up with a local legend—a 2021 Model Y Long Range named “Hank McCoy.” This car is sitting at 141,000 miles.
- Battery History: It’s actually on its third battery (replaced at 40k and 60k), but it’s still pulling a lifetime efficiency of 274 Wh/mi.
- Hardware: It’s running Cross Climate 2 tires on Aero wheels, which seems to be the sweet spot for durability and efficiency for high-mileage drivers.
Off-Roading and V2V Charging
I spoke with Brian (OG Cyber) about the Cyber Odyssey, an event series designed to teach Cybertruck owners how to actually use their off-road settings. Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, it’s a great way to see what these trucks can really do in the dirt (and yes, even my Rivian is welcome!).
We even witnessed a real-world use case for Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) charging. A Model 3 owner arrived at the event with only 8% battery. Brian hooked up his Cybertruck using a NEMA 14-50 adapter, and we were pulling about 7 kW (30-32 amps), adding roughly 30 miles of range per hour to the stranded Model 3. That’s the future of roadside assistance right there.
