I just wanted to ask if the test drive car had the leather interior or the standard cloth interior. I have noticed that the leather seats tend to be harder and less comfortable (at least in previous volvos, haven't tried an s/v40 with leather so can't comment on the comfort). I am getting over a whiplash injury as well and have not found that my V40's seats are hurting me, but of course everyone is different (but my v40 does have the cloth seats). I have found that I prefer the seat back more upright mow than pre-accident (so that when I am sitting with my hands on the wheel, the headrest is touching my head (i.e. supporting it). but again everyone is different. BTW my whiplash also occured in a honda product (an 99 Civic) and I think if I had been driving my car instead of my friend driving that I wouldn't have been injured as badly. Also when did your injury occur? if it was recent you may find that in a moth or two when the injuy has healed more, that your back may like the seats better (because your muscles are relaxed more) of course this doesn't apply if the injury happened quite a while ago. It isn't good that the pain has been bad enough to make you miss work, and I do hope that you find a solution to your problem.