well considering how hard it would be to find replacements.......
i don't know man. that sounds a little steep to me.
you could ask your bro if hes considered getting a honda or acura??
that was meant in a good way or course, but seriously it may be cheaper to fix that than to buy a new car, but it just might be a good idea in the long run.
then again it depends on how much the escort is worth, and how many miles it took to blow the head gasket, it could happen again....... knock on wood.