Experts can make mistake, can be stubborn, so please don't borrow the title "Expert" to support your arguments, experts do not inherently have the authority to against the fact.
The fact is, in reproducible cases, ALL front-wheel- drive cars that went to "Highlander Slope" had no problem to climb it, except Highlander. Highlander is simply crippled on a normal country side road. This is a fact and a fact does not change no matter what experts say, I think the following sentence is better fit for you and your expert friends.
"people just choose to see what they want to see, and discard any information that does not quite fit into their way of thinking"