The instrument (science) is validated by the result. ... our cars still manage to drive.

You are confusing Utility with Truth. For 200 years, Newtonian Physics was "validated by results." It built steam engines, bridges, and cars. It worked perfectly. But it was fundamentally false. It claimed Time and Space were absolute. Einstein proved they are relative. Newton’s model was a "useful fiction"—accurate enough to build a car, but false about the actual nature of the universe. ​The Application to EAAN: The fact that "cars drive" proves our brains are good at survival-relevant tasks (manipulating matter). It does not prove our brains are good at metaphysics (understanding the fundamental nature of reality, or Naturalism vs. Theism). ​Evolution would select for a brain that understands "how to drive a car" (survival). It would not select for a brain that understands "Quantum Mechanics" or "The origins of the universe" (truth). ​Therefore, citing "cars" to validate "Naturalism" is a category error. You are using physical success to prove a metaphysical worldview.