I'm not looking to turn this escort into an auto-x demon, but I would like something a little firmer than stock. In any case the care needs them all around because just about ever corner is blown out and it bounces more than the girls on baywatch ever did.

Just a base 93 hatchback. I'll probably go to a junkyard and pick up a set of GT rims cheap. I'm basically looking for a set of shocks that will sharpen turn in, and decrease body roll on transistion better than stock.

After driving my 89 TransAm around all summer I can tell that driving the escort is going to be a bear.

Look into KYB struts (my choice for the price) then Gabrial, and Monro

Get Progressive springs. Ford springs suck, and your rear springs are probably broken right now.

While your at the junk yard look for a rear sway bar for your car, and even a set of rear disk brakes.
The sway bar will make the car corner like mad. Although the disk brakes won't help much

Look into KYB struts (my choice for the price) then Gabrial, and Monro

Get Progressive springs. Ford springs suck, and your rear springs are probably broken right now.

While your at the junk yard look for a rear sway bar for your car, and even a set of rear disk brakes.
The sway bar will make the car corner like mad. Although the disk brakes won't help much

I don't care about making it corner like mad. I want a comfortable ride, not a sport tuned ride like I have on my GTA. The GTA almost hits 1g lateral cornering thanks to some bolt ons, and poly bushings (Good job General, you did well) on street tires. Its ROUGH though.

The Escorts role in life is to get me from A to B in relative comfort and economy. Right now, it bounces bad because the shocks are shot. But i've seen the OEM replacement shocks before. Some of them are so bad I can compress them with my own hands.

Keep in mind the body is rusting out, and the passenger quarter has a dime sized hole in it. It won't live much longer.

Slightly firmer than stock shocks, rear sway bar and rims from JY escort GT works just fine for me.

Those strut choices of mine still stand for what you want. The KYB is extreamly good quality for a reasonable dime, and the other 2 are good quality entry level struts. I wouldn't buy anything cheaper.
And I'm serious about the springs, your back springs are probably broken. I don't know why Ford used such poor quality springs.

However since you mentioned the short expected life of the car you might want to search the bone yard for the struts too.
If you search all the Escort's in the auto wreck you'll probably find a good used set. My Topaz just about ended up in the wrecker less than 1 week after I replaced the complete suspension. And I used good quality parts.

You might want to look into the cost of fixxing that rust properly.
It might cost you less than you think to have a really good grocery getter for several years to come.
Ford did a good job building your car, and very little goes wrong with them.

When I got my 95 wagon last year 3 out of 4 springs were broken. I installed new Monroe Sensa Trac struts with TRW springs and bearing plates (all from Advance Auto). Tires are 185/65R15 Goodyear Viva2's. Handles great in rain snow or dry.
The only problem is I just lost compression in #4. Tearing head off this weekend and hoping. Anyone within 150 miles of N. W. Ohio have a good 1.9 motor for sale?

When I got my 95 wagon last year 3 out of 4 springs were broken. I installed new Monroe Sensa Trac struts with TRW springs and bearing plates (all from Advance Auto). Tires are 185/65R15 Goodyear Viva2's. Handles great in rain snow or dry.
The only problem is I just lost compression in #4. Tearing head off this weekend and hoping. Anyone within 150 miles of N. W. Ohio have a good 1.9 motor for sale?

How'd the motor job go?

I had to recently replace my driver's side front strut because it was completely blown... talk about rough. I didn't even think to get the bearing plates too so I'm waiting on that to complete the job (Yes, I am replacing the other front strut too but haven't had time yet, nor the bearing plates to make it a quick one sitting job)... Monro's are pretty decent. That's what I got and they're only about 85 bucks for the front set.

I second KYB. Quality all around, excellent value. I find the ride is good as if not better than "big names".