18s are heavy and slow.. just a warning, but I know you're already dealing with an auto.
As long as you get the right offset to fit an escort and get low enough profile tires put on them (to keep the outside diameter of your tires as near to stock as possible) you could install them yourself in 30 minutes in your driveway with the jack and lug wrench that came with your scort. Screw a shop that's gonna charge you an hourly rate to install wheels.
Be sure you have some more money saved up on the side for when you start blowing $170 tires and busting rims on those NJ potholes... or you'll have one of those ghetto rides with 3 18s and a steelie.
As long as you get the right offset to fit an escort and get low enough profile tires put on them (to keep the outside diameter of your tires as near to stock as possible) you could install them yourself in 30 minutes in your driveway with the jack and lug wrench that came with your scort. Screw a shop that's gonna charge you an hourly rate to install wheels.
Be sure you have some more money saved up on the side for when you start blowing $170 tires and busting rims on those NJ potholes... or you'll have one of those ghetto rides with 3 18s and a steelie.