I contacted Fisher myself and got a great answer back:
We know the metal detector field is quite famous for all the rumors that abound and are glad to have the opportunity to explain our decision to discontinue the CZ-20. The truth is we were faced with having to substantially increase the price of this model due to a sharp increase in component as well as manufacturing costs. One option available was to source less expensive components. Quite frankly, we were not willing to compromise either the quality of the detector or the image of Fisher by using less expensive parts.
In the end, we decided the price we would have to charge to maintain production of the CZ-20 would have put the unit at a level where it could not compete with comparable models of other manufacturers. Thus the decision to discontinue the unit.
Too bad about the CZ! It's still the mashine I dream of owning and I will still get one some day. Need to find some Gold first.
I own two CZ 20's. One with 8 inch and one with 10 inch coil. The 8 is by far the best of the two and last week it quit working. I sent it to Fisher and got a call back that the repair cost would be $700. That is just way out of line. I may have to go back to Minelabs Excalibur's and fight that heavy sick monster.
Excal 1000, Excal II, Sovereign GT, CZ-20, Tiger Shark, Tejon, GTI 1500, Surfmaster Pulse, CZ6a, DFX, AT PRO, Fisher 1235, Surf PI Pro, 1280-X, many more because I enjoy learning them. New Garrett Ca
Hard to believe that the inside componets went up that much! Anyway, Maybe they can get a good deal with the componets guys and get it back on the market. I will have to be happy with my two Impulse! Maybe I should sell them!
They are deep great machines!
I figure the housing is the hard part. It is an extremely complicated housing to do tooling-wise and I figure the tools were worn out after years of production. To make new tools for this housing would cost 20,000 at least. Maybe they will do a less expensive solution, like to integrate the circuits into a standard housing like the turtle shell White's or Garretts use. They are tight and they could put a separate seal the electronics, too. We shall see. I sure do hope they come up with a new one!