It will handle WORSE with the car lowered to that extent, it's got nothing to do with the geomtery (on the front), it is the roll centre, which is basically placed below ground level if you lower an Escort/Sapphire this much. If you want to go on track, then you're wasting your time lowering it by the extent you suggest "looks good".

Obviously the rear tyres will also wear at an excessive rate (due to the camber) and you will have huge problems with bump steer on the rear, along with reduced levels of grip (especially in the wet, as the rear tyres will be just running on the inner edges).